A victory that consolidates Bolsonaro

The Brazilian Congress has given Jair Bolsonaro its first great satisfaction since assuming the presidency, in January 2019. Yesterday, members of Congress elected president of the Chamber of Deputies and also of the Senate. The winners, Congressman Arthur Lira and Senator Rodrigo Pacheco, are great allies of the Head of State. This result leaves Bolsonaro in a comfortable position until the end of his term: guarantees that no impeachment process will succeed. It was the storm cloud that had been hovering over the Planalto Palace since January; and it created nervousness in the leader and his ministers. But the Bolsonarist triumph, which allowed him to destroy the opposition (he obtained 302 votes out of the 503 legislators present) as deputies, has other equally favorable contents. This greatly hinders the construction of a center and center-left candidacy to participate in the presidential elections of 2022.

How did Bolsonaro manage to reverse a situation that seemed to favor the opposition? It’s no secret that the Brazilian government (like the one of all time) has a very compelling mechanism for MPs who are not ideologically played. These are items in the national budget that are allocated to each legislator, to invest in work in his electoral district. There is a total of $ 120 million to be divided between MPs and Senators. And as we know, money is the most powerful weapon to subdue skeptics. Not only that: Bolsonaro has promised to carry out a “reform” of the ministerial cabinet, This will allow him to include ministers appointed by political parties that have supported him in the team.

It’s no secret that the Brazilian government (like the one of all time) has a very compelling mechanism for MPs who are not ideologically played.

The defeat of the opposition highlights the internal conflicts within the political organizations themselves. The arc of those who face the Brazilian president goes from center-right to center-left. The most important members of the Lower House are the Workers’ Party, the Brazilian Democratic Movement, the Social Democratic Party of Brazil (PSDB), the Democratic Labor Party (PDT), the Socialist Party (PSB) and the Communist Party of Brazil. Brazil. They were joined by part of the Democrats (DEM), a right-wing group, plus the Green Party, Citizenship and Red Solidarity (center). There are a total of 211 legislators (out of a total of 513); which gives the opposition bloc the opportunity to block votes. The curious thing about this opposition front was the lack of alignment in the Senate: even the PT voted for the victorious Bolsonarista Pacheco.

Of course, Arthur Lira seems to strictly follow the “principles” of Bolonarianism. During the evening he organized last night at his home to celebrate the results, with 300 people, the brand new president of the deputies appeared without a chinstrap. The scene showed, at the time of the greater agglomeration, that the guests did not keep their distance and did not show protection. But today, that hardly seems like a detail in the face of the defeat of the opposition minority. The crowning of Lira and Pacheco undoubtedly represents a substantial change in the balance of political forces in Parliament.. It strengthens an alliance of right-wing and center-right parties, which will be the guarantor of Bolsonaro’s presidential candidacy in October next year. The Progressive Party, the liberals, the republicans, the solidarity, the social democrats, the social Christians, the forwards, the patriots and the Brazilian Labor Party (PTB) are part of this assembly.

Arthur Lira seems to strictly follow the “principles” of Bolonarianism. At the party he organized at his home to celebrate the results, with 300 people, the brand new president of the deputies appeared without a mask

The government’s success was also commemorated by sectors of the financial market.or. They believe that, from now on, Bolsonaro will instruct Congress to pass the laws “necessary to contain spending.” These are “reforms” that range from the reduction of public administration, from the privatization of public enterprises to the definition of a tax reform, which includes a value added tax (such as VAT) which mainly applies. to the poorest social classes. However, business consulting firms don’t fully agree. They said that maybe The new presidents of the deputies and the Senate are supporting Bolsonaro in the search for the relaxation of the rigid reforms planned, in order to ensure the presidential popularity and his re-election in 2022. Overall, it was literally a high-ranking deal that says nothing about the electoral future, which will require new alliances from the opposition.

* Author from Brazil 7 days. From São Paulo, Brazil.