Former Ceará governor and presidential candidate Ciro Gomes harshly criticized the replacement of Carlos Lupi with Wolney Queiroz as Brazil's Minister of Social Security. He expressed deep shame and called the decision an 'inexplicable indignity'.
Carlos Lupi's departure follows a crisis involving Alessandro Stefanutto, who was fired from his position at INSS (Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social) following an investigation. While Lupi wasn't directly implicated, his continued presence became untenable.
Wolney Queiroz, Lupi's former right-hand man, assumed the ministerial role. This choice reignited internal tensions within the PDT (Partido Democrático Trabalhista). Unlike Lupi, Queiroz maintained closer ties with Lula and even participated in his transition team.
Ciro Gomes's opposition to the government's decision stands in contrast to the PDT's overall support for Lula's administration. The party formally backed Lula in the second round of the 2022 presidential elections, a stance Ciro did not publicly endorse.
Despite the political differences, Ciro Gomes maintains a close relationship with Carlos Lupi, who is expected to resume his leadership role within the PDT.