Lula's promise of a ministry of indigenous people in doubt

FILE PHOTO: President-elect of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and members of an indigenous group attend a meeting at COP27 climate summit, in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, November 17, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem/File Photo

BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazil's indigenous leaders were disappointed on Monday after President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva appeared to backtrack on a promise to create a ministry of indigenous affairs to help restore rights and protections that were undermined by the current government.

Lula said on Friday he might instead decide on a special department linked to the presidential office rather than a fully-fledged ministry, which disappointed indigenous leaders who were taken by surprise by his comments.