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Mapa do Segundo Turno
Mapa do Segundo Turno

23/ 47Women

Lula appointed 11 women ministers. Flávio’s father’s government, two.

Lula began the current government with 11 women among 37 ministers, a record[1]; Flávio’s father’s government began with 2 among 22[2]. Now a candidate, Flávio called the Maria da Penha Law, signed by Lula[3], a "piece of paper", in a speech advocating longer prison terms for abusers[4].

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Women ministers at each government’s inaugurationmulheresmen1 square = 1 minister
  1. Lula · 20034 of 30ministers were women,[5][6]13%
  2. Dilma · 20119 of 37ministers were women,[7]24%
  3. Dilma · 20156 of 39ministers were women,[8]15%
  4. Temer · 20160 of 23ministers were women,[9][10]0%
  5. Bolsonaro · 20192 of 22ministers were women,[2]9%
  6. Lula · 202311 of 37ministers were women,[1]30%

Ministries and bodies with ministerial status at each government’s inauguration; Temer, on May 12, 2016, in the first cabinet without women since Geisel. In 2003, the count of women ministers and total portfolios come from different sources. Today, Lula’s government has 8 women among 38 ministers[11].

View the figures in a table
GovernmentWomenMinistersShare
Lula · 200343013%
Dilma · 201193724%
Dilma · 201563915%
Temer · 20160230%
Bolsonaro · 20192229%
Lula · 2023113730%

Power

The first woman president

On 31 October 2010, Dilma Rousseff, Lula’s candidate, was elected with around 56% of valid votes: the first woman to lead Brazil[12]. She took office with 9 women among 37 ministers, a record at the time[7].

Laws

Laws for everyday life

Lula signed the Maria da Penha Law on 7 August 2006[3]. Dilma signed the Femicide Law in March 2015[13] and created, in 2013, the Mulher: Viver sem Violência program and the Casas da Mulher Brasileira[14].

The Bolsa Família law, signed by Lula in 2004, stipulates that the benefit should preferably be paid to the woman[15]; in January 2026, 84.4% of families had a woman as the registered person responsible[16]. On his first day in office, in 2023, Lula restored the Ministry of Women[17].

Words

The law becomes a "piece of paper"

In July 2026, at a PL event in Vitória, Flávio praised the actions of a local candidate and advocated longer prison terms for abusers. He said: "That piece of paper that is the Maria da Penha Law is not what will protect women"[4].

In 2023, in the Senate’s Economic Affairs Committee, Flávio announced a vote against the equal pay bill for men and women. He argued that the proposal would not be effective and could increase litigation; he said he supported equal pay[18].

Record

3 of 306

Over 24 years, from 2003 to 2026, Flávio signed 306 legislative proposals; 3 concerned protecting women, less than 1%, according to Agência Pública. His office replied that protecting victims of violence had always been among the senator’s main causes[19].

Now he is running for the office that signs those laws. The second round is on October 25.

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References19 sources

  1. 01Congresso em Foco · Lula quebra recorde, mas mulheres ainda ocuparão menos de 30% da EsplanadaThe 11 women ministers among 37 portfolios at Lula’s inauguration in 2023, a record.(opens in a new tab)
  2. 02Agência Brasil · Veja quem são os ministros de Jair BolsonaroThe 22 portfolios in Bolsonaro’s government and the two women ministers, Tereza Cristina and Damares Alves.(opens in a new tab)
  3. 03Congresso em Foco · Presidente sanciona lei e aumenta punição para agressoresLula signs the Maria da Penha Law.(opens in a new tab)
  4. 04Poder360 · Flávio chama Lei Maria da Penha de "pedaço de papel"Flávio’s statement in Vitória and the context: advocating tougher sentences for abusers.(opens in a new tab)
  5. 05Folha de Pernambuco, via O Globo · Ministério de Lula tem número inédito de mulheres, mas fica longe de paridadeThe 4 women ministers in Lula’s first government.(opens in a new tab)
  6. 06Poder360 · Lula deve começar governo com mais ministros que em 2003 e 2007The 30 portfolios at Lula’s inauguration in 2003.(opens in a new tab)
  7. 07TV Câmara · Primeira mulher a ocupar a Presidência garante presença feminina recorde nos ministériosThe 9 women ministers among 37 portfolios at Dilma’s inauguration in 2011.(opens in a new tab)
  8. 08Panrotas · Presidenta Dilma empossa os 39 integrantes do ministérioThe 39 ministers sworn in in 2015, including 6 women.(opens in a new tab)
  9. 09Agência Brasil · Temer dá posse a novos ministros; número de pastas cai de 32 para 23The 23 portfolios in Temer’s cabinet at inauguration.(opens in a new tab)
  10. 10Gazeta do Povo · Pela primeira vez em 37 anos, ministério não terá mulheresThe first cabinet without women since Geisel’s government.(opens in a new tab)
  11. 11O Tempo · Após trocas, governo Lula fica com 8 ministras, menor número desde 2023The 8 women ministers among 38 portfolios in Lula’s government in April 2026.(opens in a new tab)
  12. 12ConJur · Dilma Rousseff, do PT, é a primeira mulher a presidir o BrasilDilma’s election with 56% of valid votes, the first woman president.(opens in a new tab)
  13. 13Rádio Senado · Lei do Feminicídio completa 10 anosThe Femicide Law, signed by Dilma in March 2015.(opens in a new tab)
  14. 14Diário Oficial da União, via MPRJ · Decreto nº 8.086, de 30 de agosto de 2013Dilma’s decree establishing the Mulher: Viver sem Violência program and the Casas da Mulher Brasileira.(opens in a new tab)
  15. 15Senado Federal · Lei nº 10.836, de 9 de janeiro de 2004The article requiring Bolsa Família to be paid preferably to the woman.(opens in a new tab)
  16. 16Agência Brasil, via Acessa.com · Fome recua mais em lares com Bolsa Família chefiados por mulherThe 84.4% of Bolsa Família families with a woman as the registered person responsible, in January 2026.(opens in a new tab)
  17. 17Agência Câmara · Câmara aprova MP que reorganiza ministérios do governo LulaThe 2023 provisional measure reorganizing the ministries, including the Ministry of Women.(opens in a new tab)
  18. 18Agência Senado · Igualdade salarial entre mulheres e homens passa na CAE e vai ao PlenárioThe vote against announced by Flávio in the CAE and his justification.(opens in a new tab)
  19. 19Agência Pública · Flávio Bolsonaro fez 3 propostas de lei sobre segurança da mulher em 24 anos de políticaThe 3 proposals on protecting women among 306 legislative proposals, and his office’s response.(opens in a new tab)