Luciana Santos, from PC do B, gains strength for the Ministry of Science and Technology

The president of PC do B, Luciana Santos, deputy governor of Pernambuco, gained strength to head the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Santos should have a conversation with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) this Wednesday (21), when the hammer should be beaten.

The president of PC do B, who is a deputy, was part of the Chamber’s Science and Technology commission. PT members and allies of the president-elect say that she is the most quoted name for the portfolio.

In this way, Lula would serve the party, which supported him during the campaign. During the election period, Santos claimed the seat of candidate for the Senate for Pernambuco, but had to give up the post to Tereza Leitão (PT-PE).

During the Bolsonaro government, the portfolio was headed by Marcos Pontes, from 2018 until March of this year, when he left office to run for the Chamber of Deputies for the state of São Paulo. He graduated this week.

In October 2021, the former minister experienced a crisis with the Minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, when he opposed the cut of BRL 600 million to which the portfolio was submitted at that time. He was even called a donkey by Guedes.

If Santos is confirmed as a minister, the name of the president of PC do B may be announced this week. According to allies, Lula will disclose a series of other members of the government.

Lula’s administration will have a total of 37 ministries. The president-elect has already hit the hammer in relation to some portfolios, including Defense (José Múcio Monteiro), Finance (Fernando Haddad), Civil House (Rui Costa), Itamaraty (Mauro Vieira), Culture (Margareth Menezes), Education ( Camilo Santana), Attorney General of the Union (Jorge Messias) and Comptroller General of the Union (Vinícius Marques de Carvalho).

Former Minister Aloizio Mercadante was chosen to head the BNDES (National Bank for Social Development). It is expected that Lula will announce this week the deputy Alexandre Padilha (PT-SP) for the command of the SRI (Secretary of Institutional Relations).

During the transition, the group responsible for the area decided to ask for an increase in the budget of the CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development) to readjust research grants.

Benefits have not been readjusted since 2013. Sheet showed, the proposal under study is to request another R$ 560 million for the council next year, with R$ 403 million for the payment of a scholarship and the rest for development. Today, scholarships range from R$1,500 to R$2,200.

The idea is to give a 40% increase to scholarships. Currently, CNPq has R$ 1.3 billion for the next year, with around R$ 1 billion for the benefit of researchers.

To get the funds, Lula’s team needs the approval of the PEC (Proposal for Amendment to the Constitution) on Spending, which makes room in the spending ceiling at least for next year, according to an agreement sewn with Congress.