Adhesion of the Republicans to the Lula government causes crisis in the party

Big names in the Republican Party, more aligned with former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL), are dissatisfied with the likely entry of the party into the government base of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and are even talking about leaving the party.

The crisis worsened after parties from the so-called Centrão, which includes the PP and União Brasil, announced the exchange of deputies from the CPI of the MST, in a government maneuver to empty the work of the commission.

In addition to taking away votes from the opposition in the CPI, the exchange signals to the PT management that the parties are doing their part to guarantee positions in the expected mini-reform in the Esplanada dos Ministérios. The parties have been negotiating with the Executive since the House secured votes to approve the Tax Reform in July.

According to Republican parliamentarians, this movement – which is being called “Bolsopetismo” support – could cause a split and lead to the departure of important names on the national scene, such as the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas, the president of the CPI , Luciano Zucco, and senators Hamilton Mourão and Damares Alves.

Zucco, who chairs the MST’s CPI, did not hide his discontent. “If the Republicans continue to disrespect the right, I will look for an alternative dialogue to keep my mandate”, he highlighted.

Considered one of the main names of the opposition in the presidential race, the governor of São Paulo should follow the same path. Tarcísio de Freitas also showed dissatisfaction with the latest moves by the Republicans.

Zucco and Tarcísio spoke at length by telephone, this Wednesday (9), and are already considering a negotiated exit with the board of Republicans. In fact, it was the party that took the first step towards handing over control of the MST’s CPI to the ruling base, removing two parliamentarians who had been acting combatively against land invasions. Messias Donato (ES) and Diego Garcia (PR) found out through the press that they were no longer part of the CPI. The measure was received as a betrayal by parliamentarians.

Deputy Diego Garcia was also surprised by the movement, but claimed that the party president has publicly guaranteed that the Republicans will not be part of the government. Garcia was one of the substituted deputies in the MST’s CPI. He forwarded a letter to leader Hugo Mota to return to the commission. The parliamentarian also pointed out that he awaits the return of the president of the Republicans, Marcos Pereira, who is on an official trip abroad to talk about the party’s directions.

In addition to them, senator Hamilton Mourão (RS) admitted the possibility of leaving the acronym, in case it becomes part of Lula’s base. A NovaBrasil FM radioMourão acknowledged that he was uncomfortable with the negotiations of the PT management to assign a ministry to the party that elected him, with the appointment of deputy Silvio Costa Filho (Republicanos-PE) to occupy a portfolio in the government.

Commenting on the Republicans’ rapprochement with the PT administration, federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL) acronym became a left-wing legend.

“I believe, today, that the Republicans are a leftist party”, said the deputy to journalists in the city of São José do Rio Preto (SP).

And he added: “Wanting to get closer to Lula at a time like this, playing hard, changing his members within the CPI
[Comissão Parlamentar de Inquérito] of the MST without even warning them in advance of this (…) I see it as regrettable and that puts the Republicans on an equal footing with the left parties, I really cannot understand”.