President Lula meets with representatives of social movements

The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), met this Saturday (6) with representatives of social movements. One of the topics discussed was Petrobras, but there was no mention of the crisis involving the president of the state-owned company, Jean Paul Prates, according to the Chief of Staff, Márcio Macêdo.

Among the movements present was FUP (Single Federation of Oil Workers). The idea is to receive suggestions for the government. The meeting took place at Granja do Torto.

The entity discussed what they call the social role of Petrobras, the need to accelerate investments so that they can be delivered within this term, as well as the expansion of the company’s focus to become an energy company beyond oil.

“It was not about [the crisis at] Petrobras. It was about the need to strengthen national content, to strengthen Petrobras,” said Macedo.

Prates and the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, are in an open crisis after the minister criticized the president of the state-owned company in an interview with Folha.

One possibility being studied by President Lula is the replacement of Prates by the current president of BNDES (National Bank for Economic and Social Development), Aloizio Mercadante.

Prates’ inner circle, on the other hand, sees a fabricated crisis and the company’s president wants to meet with Lula to secure his position.

In addition to FUP, representatives from religious groups, such as Evangelicals for Democracy, education, and unionists were present at the meeting.

With the religious representatives, Macedo said that the need to “have public policies that can reach the evangelical, Catholic community, especially mothers concerned about children who are victims of violence in the outskirts of the country” was discussed.

Macedo also pointed out that the idea is to organize meetings like this periodically.