Brazilian Congressman Janones declines ministry, stays in Chamber after leading Lula's campaign channel

Brazilian Congressman André Janones said he will not accept a ministry position in President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's new government, despite leading his massive "Exército do Lula" messaging channel that gathered over 10 million members during the campaign. Janones, re-elected for a third term, stated he will remain in the Chamber of Deputies. He acknowledged the channel's centralized model is not fully democratic but called it a necessary transition tool. He also met Lula at the Alvorada Palace for lunch. The congressman addressed controversies including a protective order request, a "rachadinha" agreement where he returned R$131,511, and a disputed video about social program cuts. His digital strategy drew international media attention from outlets like Le Monde and The Guardian.