Federal deputy André Janones (Rede-MG) has ruled out joining the federal cabinet following President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's re-election for a fourth term. In an exclusive interview with Fantástico, Janones, who was also re-elected to his third term as a deputy, declared that he will not accept any ministerial role. He emphasized his commitment to remaining in the Chamber of Deputies to represent the populace.
Janones is the creator of the messaging channel dubbed the "Lula Army," which emerged as a significant phenomenon during the campaign. The platform gathered more than 10 million participants in the three weeks leading up to the second round of voting. Janones manages the channel directly from his mobile phone and noted that while membership numbers may fluctuate, he estimates that approximately one million members were infiltrators or opponents, leaving around nine million genuine supporters.
Following the election results, Janones spent a night in São Paulo monitoring the vote count before sleeping for only an hour and a half. Although he initially planned to rest in Rio de Janeiro, his schedule was filled with interviews from international media outlets, including Le Monde and The Guardian, as well as invitations from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Colombia, and Mexico. He described this global attention as unexpected.
Regarding the structure of the "Lula Army," Janones acknowledged that the model concentrates decision-making in his own figure and does not represent democracy in its fullest sense. He characterized it as a transitional tool necessary to win the election and ensure governability for the president, but stated it is not the long-term model he desires for Brazil. He expressed a vision of democracy where individuals can post freely on social networks, noting that current constraints exist until society discusses the role of big tech companies.
Two days before the second round, the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) requested that platforms reinforce their teams and ensure equal treatment for campaigns. Meta, Google, and X informed the court that they found no irregularities in the president's supporter channel. Janones confirmed he will remain affiliated with the Rede Sustentability party and stated he has already spoken with Lula about the future leadership of the communication space, affirming that the channel belongs to the president.
After receiving a phone call from Lula while in Rio, Janones traveled to Brasília to meet the president at the Palácio da Alvorada. The meeting included a live broadcast and a three-hour lunch with Lula and First Lady Janja. Janones reported that the president was eating tilapia and still suffering from throat issues.
The intense campaign routine took a toll on Janones, who traveled up to 2,000 kilometers weekly by car to maintain an internet connection. During one interview, he experienced difficulty speaking due to side effects from medication prescribed for his throat but recovered within an hour to continue with a British journalist.
When questioned about controversial aspects of his political trajectory, Janones addressed a protective measure requested by a former partner under the Maria da Penha Law regarding accusations of psychological violence. He stated he could not comment as the case is under judicial secrecy, affirmed he has not been convicted, and insisted that the truth will prevail.
Additionally, between 2019 and 2020, the Public Prosecutor's Office (PGR) alleged that Janones engaged in "rachadinha" (salary skimming) using an advisor's credit card for personal expenses. Janones denied diverting employee salaries, noting he reached an agreement to close the case without conviction and returned R$131,511. He also discussed his suspension from office for three months due to clashes with opponents in Congress, stating he does not regret his actions and views such decisions as politically influenced.
On the topic of accusations regarding the dissemination of false news, Janones referenced a video published before the second round suggesting potential cuts to social programs if Flávio Bolsonaro were elected. While acknowledging the information could be considered doubtful, he denied it was false, stating simply that he is not lying.
Sources: G1.