BRASÍLIA – On May 5, 2025, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) dismissed Cida Gonçalves from the Ministry of Women and announced Márcia Lopes as the new head of the ministry. This marks the 12th change in Lula's cabinet and the sixth change this year.
The substitution in the Ministry of Women is part of Lula's strategy to reconnect with the female electorate ahead of the 2026 elections, as polls indicate a decline in his popularity among women, evangelicals, the poor, and residents of the Northeast.
Both Márcia Lopes and Cida Gonçalves have been affiliated with the PT since the 1980s. Márcia Lopes previously served as Minister of Social Development during Lula's second term and is well-regarded by the president. Her new role includes the responsibility of increasing the visibility of the ministry she now leads.
"The president wants to see women happier and more protected," Lopes stated, emphasizing the need to change the prevailing machismo culture.
Márcia Lopes is also the sister of Gilberto Carvalho, a long-time ally of Lula who served as chief of staff during the early years of the PT government and held the position of minister of the General Secretariat under Dilma Rousseff.
With a background in social work, Márcia has held various positions, including being the Secretary of Social Assistance in Londrina and a city councilor from 2001 to 2004. She returned to the Ministry of Social Development in 2010, where she served until the end of Lula's second term in 2011.
The dismissal of Cida Gonçalves had been anticipated since last year, particularly after allegations of moral harassment surfaced against her from team members. Although the Public Ethics Commission of the Presidency absolved her of these accusations, her position had become increasingly tenuous.
Cida met with Lula on May 2, 2025, but no announcement was made regarding her dismissal at that time. Her exit comes shortly after the resignation of Carlos Lupi, the Minister of Social Security, who stepped down due to a scandal involving improper deductions affecting retirees and pensioners of the National Institute of Social Security (INSS).
The recent cabinet reshuffle reflects a gradual approach to ministerial reform that Lula has been contemplating since the beginning of the year. This is the third change attributed to performance issues, rather than direct accusations against the ministers involved.
Earlier this year, Lula replaced Paulo Pimenta with Sidônio Palmeira as the Secretary of Social Communication, and in March, Nísia Trindade was dismissed from the Ministry of Health, with Alexandre Padilha taking over. Gleisi Hoffmann was appointed to oversee political articulation with Congress.
Both Carlos Lupi and Juscelino Filho, the former Minister of Communications, were removed due to accusations and scandals that came to light. Lupi's resignation followed an investigation revealing fraudulent practices in the payment of INSS benefits, while Juscelino faced serious allegations from the Attorney General's Office (PGR) of involvement in criminal activities including money laundering and corruption.
Despite the ongoing changes, Lula has yet to alter the participation of Centrão parties in his government, a move that many had anticipated as part of a broader strategy to enhance governance as he approaches the end of his term.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, the appointments and dismissals within Lula's cabinet reflect both his strategic priorities and the pressures he faces from various factions within his party and the broader political spectrum.
