Act embarrasses center and opposition talks about criminalization of the right

The presidents of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), and of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), will participate in the ceremony called by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) to mark one year of acts of vandalism on January 8, in Brasília, even with the bad climate created by the Executive after Lula’s veto of sections of the Budgetary Guidelines Law (LDO) that defined a date for the payment of tax amendments and the sending of a new Provisional Measure on tax relief of the payroll. This will occur due to the fact that both Lira and Pacheco came out in defense of the institutions after the 8/1 demonstrations, last year, which ended with the depredation of the headquarters of the Three Powers.

Furthermore, the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, January 8, 2024, will be held in the Black Room of the National Congress. The understanding of analysts interviewed by the report is that the presence of the presidents of both Houses of the Legislature is an institutional duty.

Even so, some parliamentarians from Centrão parties say, behind the scenes, that the event will be marked by a certain embarrassment given Lula’s recent measures already mentioned.

The opposition classifies the event – which has been called by the left and even by members of the center acronyms an “act for democracy” – as an attempt to criminalize right-wing parties, as the Planalto always tries to associate the demonstrations with protests against the result of the 2022 elections.

In a recent interview with TV Camera, Lira said that “the Three Powers need and must be preserved. Brazil needs this.” Regarding relations with the other powers, marked by conflicts with the Judiciary and the Executive, and interference in Congressional decisions, the President of the Chamber once again defended the role of the National Congress in legislating on any subject, which “does not provide an opening for other powers to deliberate on the issue”, even if “Congress decides not to legislate”.

“The National Congress, sometimes, when it decides not to legislate, is legislating. It does not leave room for other powers to do so. If you have a Congress elected for that period of time of 4 years in the Chamber and 8 in the Senate, those are the representatives of the population for that period, those received popular authorization to represent them in their decisions”, he said.

Lira’s statement refers to decisions by the Federal Supreme Court (STF) that went beyond the Court’s functions, such as the rejection of the time frame for the recognition of indigenous lands. Weeks later, in a clear response to the STF, Congress reestablished the understanding that indigenous people can only claim lands that were inhabited by tribes on the date of promulgation of the 1988 Constitution.

According to Political Science professor Waldir Pucci, from the University of Brasília (UnB), it is a fact that 2024 begins with a certain tension caused by Lula’s vetoes and the sending of a provisional measure on a topic that parliamentarians have already deliberated on – before the recess , deputies and senators overturned Lula’s veto on the end of the payroll tax exemption in 17 sectors. For him, however, this will not interfere with the event scheduled for next Monday (8/1), with the participation of the presidents of the Chamber and Senate, the Federal Supreme Court, the President of the Republic and other authorities.

“We do see that there is a climate of uneasiness between the two powers [Executivo e Legislativo], but the discomfort is one that can be resolved through political negotiation. And we have to separate this situation from January 8th. So, both Pacheco and Lira should attend, yes, not to demonstrate support for the president, but rather to demonstrate support for the institution of the National Congress, the Legislative branch, which was also attacked”, assesses the analyst.

Political Science professor Elton Gomes, from the Federal University of Piauí (UFPI), believes that the institutional duty of Lira and Pacheco prevails when participating in the ceremony next Monday (8).

“It does not seem to me that it is an element of alignment of endorsement of the Executive’s actions, but rather an important and symbolic gesture from the point of view of what would be, in the view of these political actors, an act of redress for the Three Powers who were victims of acts of depredation on 8/1, this tends to appear as a much more protocolary mission than anything else.”

For deputy José Nelto (PP-GO), who is deputy leader of the government in the Chamber, the participation of the presidents of the Houses in the event cannot be contested. Despite saying he is outraged by President Lula’s vetoes on matters approved by deputies and senators, and widely discussed, the ceremony is to mark a date that cannot be forgotten and that seeks to “strengthen democracy”. “Each person has a position, they have obligations, they cannot let personal thoughts appear to the detriment of democracy”, says Nelto.

Like most parliamentarians, both from Centrão and from the opposition, Nelto states that Congress cannot accept that Lula vetoes the calendar established for mandatory amendments, with mandatory payment, especially if we consider that 2024 will be a year of municipal elections, with city halls experiencing great financial difficulties. According to him, Congress will override Lula’s veto.

For the deputy, sending an MP reimbursing company payrolls to Congress means a breach of trust between the government and the Chamber and the Senate, and the market. In Nelto’s view, the president of the Federal Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), should return the Provisional Measure to Planalto. These measures at the beginning of the year, according to Nelto, show that Lula is “picky” with Congress, and “poorly advised”.

Opposition repudiates Lula’s act; senators announce public demonstration

Faced with opposition criticism of the event led by Lula on January 8, deputies and senators organized a joint demonstration of repudiation. Despite this, a text was published by a group of 30 senators. It is not known why opposition deputies did not participate in the public demonstration announced this Thursday (4).

In the document to which the People’s Gazette had access, the senators repudiate the acts of vandalism on January 8, 2023, reaffirm the importance of democracy and highlight the omissions of the federal government in the development of these events.

The congressmen also criticize the STF’s actions, such as the “improper use of interpretations of constitutional provisions”, and recall the investigations opened by the Court itself, such as the one into fake news.

“Democracy is a value achieved with great effort and sacrifice throughout history, and its preservation is intrinsically linked to engagement and mutual respect between all spheres of public power. Each institution has a specific role in strengthening democratic foundations. Contrary to what President Lula stated, democracy, for us, is not relative.

In this way, we emphasize that the practice of exceptional acts by a Power with the justification of protecting democracy needs to be urgently stopped. Abuse of powers and misuse of interpretations of constitutional provisions can kill democracy. The return to democratic normality cannot wait any longer”says an excerpt from the document released by the senators.

Faced with the opposition’s fear that next Monday’s ceremony (8) will be used to persecute members of the right, the senators say: “We call on everyone to live in an environment of tolerance and avoid persecution at any cost to those who think differently“. Click here to read the full text.

The demonstration “In defense of democracy and the Constitution” was signed by the following senators:

1) Rogério Marinho (PL) – Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
2) Ciro Nogueira (PP) – Minority Leader in the Senate
3) Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) – Minority Leader in Congress
4) Carlos Portinho (PL) – Leader of the PL in the Senate
5) Tereza Cristina (PP) – Leader of the PP in the Senate
6) Mecias de Jesus (Republicans) – Leader of the Republicans in the Senate
7) Izalci Lucas (PSDB) – Leader of the PSDB in the Senate
8) Eduardo Girão (New) – Leader of the New in the Senate
9) Alan Rick (União)
10) Cleitinho (Republicans)
11) Damares Alves (Republicans)
12) Dr. Hiran (PP)
13) Eduardo Gomes (PL)
14) Esperidião Amin (PP)
15) Hamilton Mourão (Republicans)
16) Jaime Bagattoli (PL)
17) Jayme Campos (União)
18) Jorge Seif (PL)
19) Luiz Carlos Heinze (PP)
20) Magno Malta (PL)
21) Márcio Bittar (União)
22) Marcos do Val (We can)
23) Marcos Pontes (PL)
24) Marcos Rogério (PL)
25) Nelsinho Trad (PSD)
26) Plínio Valério (PSDB)
27) Sérgio Moro (União)
28) Styvenson Valentim (We Can)
29) Wellington Fagundes (PL)
30) Zequinha Marinho (We can)

The leader of the opposition in the Chamber of Deputies, Carlos Jordy (PL-RJ), said that “the political and theatrical use of next Monday’s event is notorious, […] which seeks to criminalize the right, monopolize the defense of democracy and, above all, ignore the usurpations of the STF’s powers and violations of individual principles and guarantees, such as freedom of expression, natural justice, due process and many others”.

According to the deputy leader of the opposition in the Chamber, deputy Maurício Marcon (PL-RS), the left only values ​​democracy when its opinion or actions stand out. Marcon cited disrespect for parliamentarians’ decisions, as recently occurred with the time frame, approved by Congress, which had sections vetoed by Lula, which ended up overturned by the Legislature. “They want to do their will, there is nothing democratic about it. Their actions show that they are very contrary to this.”

Lula makes political use of the 8/1 event

In the opinion of the professor of Political Sciences at the Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Adriano Cerqueira, Lula has not yet achieved a good relationship with the National Congress, especially in the Chamber of Deputies, and needs to accept the decisions of parliamentarians, at the same time which tries to reap the political fruits of the 8/1 acts as much as possible. “It is an opportunity for Lula and his supporters to try to take the lead in the discourse in defense of democracy, trying to frame, put Bolsonaro and his supporters against the wall.”

According to the professor, the relationship between the government and Congress has become more tense since the end of the year, when Lula vetoed the payroll tax exemption, approved by deputies and senators, with a constant struggle between the executive and the legislature.

Regarding the back and forth of decisions taken by Parliament and modified by Planalto, Elton Gomes, from the Federal University of Piauí (UFPI), says that there is a clear difficulty for the Lula government to be able to carry out its agenda in the legislature due to an ideologically ideological Congress. more conservative, that is, close to the center right.

Furthermore, Gomes highlights that the head of the Executive has been losing powers since the Dilma government, with the greater empowerment of the National Congress over parliamentary amendments, especially those regarding mandatory payment.

Security will be reinforced in Brasília to avoid demonstrations

The entire central area of ​​the federal capital, where the ministries and headquarters of the Powers are located, will be monitored by images from cameras, drones and information that will be sent to the Brasília Integrated Operations Center (CIOB) on the 8th.

The DF Military Police and the Federal Supreme Court (STF) will close the perimeter of Praça dos Três Poderes and access to people and vehicles without authorization will not be allowed. To achieve this, there will be the presence of specialized troops and, if necessary, search lines.

Federal, Federal Highway, Civil and Military Police of the Federal District, as well as the Fire Department and Traffic Department, as well as the Institutional Security Office of the Presidency of the Republic and National Force, with 250 agents, will be involved in security.

“There is no chance of repeating what happened on January 8, 2023 on January 8, 2024,” said the acting Minister of Justice and Public Security, Ricardo Cappelli.

The act in defense of democracy will be held next Monday, at 3 pm, in the Senate plenary, and the presence of Lula and the presidents of the STF, Luís Roberto Barroso, have already been confirmed; from the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG); and from the Chamber, Arthur Lira (PP-AL). The Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, will return from his vacation to attend the event. Around 500 guests are expected in the Senate.