Alesp: Queue for CPI has pizza at dawn and password loss – 03/22/2023 – Power

After spending an early morning camped to file CPIs at the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo, parliamentary advisors complain about the situation and say that leaving their place to go to the bathroom or smoke could cost them their valuable place in line – marked with a password.

Protests against the method are common among employees of parties supporting Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), who lead the queue, and opposition parties, on the left, who are in the flashlight. The House is presided over by an ally of Tarcísio, André do Prado (PL).

One of the advisors says she is undergoing a test of resistance from Big Brother – most prefer not to speak to the press or not identify themselves.

As shown to Sheet, the queue to present CPIs began on the morning of Tuesday (21st), more than 72 hours before the opening of the protocol, scheduled for Friday (24th), at 9am. As the investigative commissions are set up in the order in which they are registered, and only five can function at a time, there is a race between the base and the opposition to get their issues settled.

This Wednesday afternoon (22), there was a new attempt to reach an agreement to adopt an alternative method to the queue at a meeting between the party leaders of the House, but there was no consensus – the queue remains.

According to left-wing deputies, the best-positioned deputies do not want to leave their posts, even though passwords have already been distributed to mark the seats.

“Despite the attempt, there was no consensus and agreement between the party leaders during the meeting.
The president reaffirms that the administration of the House must be impartial and respect the ways in which all parliamentarians and party leaders act, guaranteeing security and order of work”, says a note issued by Alesp’s press office.

There are 53 people in line this Wednesday and each one can file only one CPI. Passwords with numbers were distributed – advisors argue that the password is enough and can’t wait to get rid of the queue.

The parties organize their advisers in shifts. Those who spent the night in line had pizza and soda for dinner. From time to time and without prior notice, a representative of the House checks password by password in the queue, and advisors who are not present lose their place.

Around 12:00 this Wednesday, a bond sheet on the wall indicates the nine passwords already “cancelled due to the absence of advisors”.

The first places in line are occupied by parties allied with Tarcísio and the president of the House – such as PL, Republicans and União Brasil. Thiago Auricchio (PL) is in first, followed by Gil Diniz (PL).

Gil, for example, wants to propose a CPI on gender transition treatment for minors.

The PT, the best positioned opposition party in the queue, is in 31st and occupies other oppositions further back. PSOL even sent representatives, but withdrew because it considered the situation degrading.

PT members have CPI proposals that affect Tarcísio specifically, such as an investigation into the shooting in Paraisópolis during the campaign and the connection between the Secretary of Education, Renato Feder, and the company Multilaser – both ideas of Deputy Reis (PT).

The PT also wants to propose CPIs regarding DER contracts, resources from the Butantan Institute, concessions and operation of the subway and CPTM, among others. PSOL aims at cleaning up the Tietê River.

The toucans, in turn, propose CPIs on fraud at Lojas Americanas and supply problems at the energy company Enel.

The protocol of the CPIs usually occurs after the beginning of the legislature – the new deputies took office on the last 15th. But a decision by the previous president, Carlão Pignatari (PSDB), closed the protocol of matters between the 15th and the 23rd, reopening at 24.

During this period, the new president, André, would define how the CPIs protocol would be carried out and disclose details such as date, time and whether the procedure would be physical or digital. This Wednesday, an act published in the Official Gazette determined that the CPIs must be physically presented, as of Friday morning, at the entrance to the plenary.

The opposition claims, however, that deputies close to André and Tarcísio had privileged information. While the left bench was preparing for the digital protocol, base advisors were already forming the queue in advance.

It takes 32 signatures of deputies to file a CPI, and parliamentarians have spent the last few days in pursuit of this goal. The CPIs have a term of 120 days and can be extended once, for 60 days, adding up to a maximum period of six months.

As shown to Sheet, the CPI queue has already become a tradition in the Assembly. In the last edition, in 2019, Toucan servers spent 63 hours in line to shield Governor João Doria (PSDB) and push Dersa’s CPI, proposed by the PT, to the end of the line.

Four years ago, the CPI queue began on March 15, a Friday, and lasted until the following Monday.

PSDB and allies, once in the number one position in the queue, filed 11 CPIs, pushing the opposition to at least the following year.

The topics ranged from the illegal sale of animals, fake news, the situation of the Salto Grande dam, sexual violence in universities, air taxis and others. With that, the toucans achieved the main objective of blocking a Dersa CPI, which would target the corruption scandals carried out by the engineer Paulo Vieira de Souza, known as Paulo Preto.

The mere protocol of the CPIs, however, does not guarantee their functioning. This depends on the president of the House creating the commission, the parties defining their members, the oldest member calling the first meeting, the members electing the president and rapporteur, and that there is a quorum for the other meetings. All of these steps usually face obstruction from the base or the opposition, depending on the topic of the CPI.