# União Brasil Negotiates Cabinet Roles While Resisting Full Support for Lula Party leaders seek ministerial positions despite internal opposition to the current government's agenda. - **Source:** [Folha de S.Paulo](https://www.folha.uol.com.br) - **Published:** 2026-11-12 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/970fc542-cbdb-41af-8c9d-8ef315a5d27f ## Coalition Tensions Emerge União Brasil faces significant challenges in guaranteeing full legislative support for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's government. The party's internal structure remains divided, with a substantial faction maintaining an opposition profile. This ideological friction complicates the administration's goal of securing a unified voting bloc in the upcoming 2027 legislative term. ## Government Demands Unity PT president Edinho Silva is leading negotiations with the premise that any party joining the cabinet must provide total support for the government. The administration views previous alliances with fragmented parties as ineffective. Consequently, they are pushing for a more disciplined coalition to ensure the passage of their legislative agenda. ## Internal Party Opposition A significant portion of União Brasil's 46 deputies and 6 senators holds strong opposition views. Many members actively supported the presidential candidacy of Flávio Bolsonaro during the previous election cycle. This historical alignment makes it difficult for party leadership to promise the total loyalty that the current government is demanding. ## Economic Policy Disagreements Beyond political history, the party faces fundamental programmatic conflicts with the PT. União Brasil maintains long-standing positions against tax increases, which are central to the government's current economic strategy. These conflicting views on fiscal policy create a major barrier to forming a stable and cohesive governing alliance for the future. ## Pragmatic Ministerial Ambitions Despite these ideological hurdles, party president Antonio Rueda has signaled interest in securing ministerial positions. Many parliamentarians prioritize pragmatic gains, and Senate leader Davi Alcolumbre remains a vocal advocate for the alliance. The party aims to secure at least two ministries or a combination of one ministry and secondary government roles. ## Targeted Government Portfolios The party is eyeing several key areas for potential influence, including Cities, Regional Integration, Transport, and Tourism. Other sectors mentioned in internal discussions include Science and Technology, as well as Agriculture. These departments represent significant political capital that the party hopes to leverage in exchange for its cooperation in the legislature. ## Past Personnel Complications Internal dynamics are further complicated by past interactions with the administration. Deputy Pedro Lucas, previously considered for a cabinet role, declined an invitation in April 2025. His refusal, combined with his vocal support for Flávio Bolsonaro during the second round of the election, has created lingering tension with the current presidential team. ## Future Governing Stability The inability of União Brasil to guarantee full support highlights the fragility of the current governing model. As the 2027 term approaches, the administration must decide if a partial alliance is worth the risk. The outcome will determine whether Lula can effectively implement his agenda or face persistent legislative gridlock. ## Sources covering this story - https://redir.folha.com.br/redir/online/emcimadahora/rss091/*https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/colunas/painel/2026/11/uniao-brasil-negocia-ministerios-mas-descarta-dar-apoio-integral-a-lula.shtml — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._