With the collaboration of Henrique Hein
The departure of the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, is considered inevitable this year. The decision is motivated by a set of factors, which include the wear and tear accumulated during his administration, the political negotiations involving his party, the PSD, and the scenario of a probable ministerial reform planned for the period after the municipal elections.
In political terms, Silveira's departure will not be seen as a "fall" or "dismissal." President Lula (PT) is articulating a strategic "promotion" for the minister, in whom he has great confidence. Silveira is expected to take over the Institutional Relations portfolio, currently under the command of PT member Alexandre Padilha.
If it comes to fruition, the change would not be insignificant: the current minister would have an office in the Planalto Palace, becoming the only non-PT member to occupy this prominent position. The “fall”, however, also derives from the political process in Minas Gerais. Silveira is competing for prominence with the president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, his fellow party member.
Hence the interest in a more prominent portfolio in the Esplanade. Even more so because Pacheco himself is tipped to take over the Ministry of Justice. Both were senators together in 2022, when Silveira, first alternate, took over the position after the resignation of Antônio Anastasia, who took over as Minister of TCU (Federal Court of Auditors).
He ran for re-election to the Senate that year, but was defeated by Cleitinho Azevedo (PSC). In January 2023, he was placed in Lula's ministry. Silveira spent the two years fighting with the top brass of the regulatory agencies, especially the ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency).
The political dispute with Pacheco long held up the appointment of a director at the Agency, which had a vacant position since May. Since nominees for regulatory agencies must be questioned by the Senate, there was a stalemate.
Pacheco allied himself with the former president of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AM), who is expected to hold the position again. As a result, Silveira's nominations were vetoed. The arm wrestling match resulted in ANEEL having dozens of processes still open throughout the year, since they ended in a tie and there was no fifth director to decide.
Silveira, who is considered to be the political coordinator of the Federal Government, was unable to resolve the impasse over the position. Now he sees Pacheco arriving in an Esplanada more focused on opening up spaces for the Centrão, although it may be too big for the two PSD members from Minas Gerais.
Wear and tear with deputies and senators
Ao Canal Solar, sources heard by the report highlight that there is a “clear lack of dialogue” on Silveira’s part, including with deputies and senators from his own party, who are not even having their requests for an appointment with the minister met by him.
Another source of dissatisfaction involves the minister's stance, which behind the scenes is said to be one of “extreme aggression” towards his opponents and the fact that he has “immersed himself in his individual gas agenda”, leaving aside other energy sources.
“The electricity sector in general is demanding a necessary and fundamental rearrangement in the electricity sector, which is currently seen as a patchwork and needs a new broad framework to reorganize an outdated model. To this end, the minister missed the opportunity to build this strong and necessary institutional leadership. In the corridors, the availability of agenda and greater willingness to dialogue with agents have weighed heavily,” said one of the sources heard by Canal Solar, who asked not to be identified.
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