Confrontation between Pacheco and Lira over MPs threatens governance

With unanimous support from party leaders, the President of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), decided to clash with the President of the Chamber, Arthur Lira (PP-AL). The struggle for power aggravated an impasse that had been unfolding for weeks, over how the Chamber and Senate should vote on the provisional measures (MPs) of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Now, the dispute puts the very governance of the country at risk.

This Thursday morning (23), Pacheco used his power as President of Congress and called for the immediate installation of joint committees of senators and deputies to analyze the provisional measures. In practice, the measure may increase the power of senators, who would then participate in the debate on the text of the measures.

With his decision, Pacheco hoped to overcome the almost two-month impasse with Lira and start voting on the MPs, holding parallel negotiations around projects for an eventual reform of the rite. Currently, it is the Chamber that alone debates the texts of the MPs and the Senate has reviewing power.

However, Lira’s first reaction clearly showed that the institutional crisis between the two Houses has worsened and does not seem to have an end in the near future. He can now simply influence the leaders of the deputies not to make appointments to the collegiate instituted by Pacheco, maintaining the impasse indefinitely.

This poses a great risk to the country’s governance, as measures essential to the government, such as the structuring of 37 ministries and actions for fiscal rebalancing are pending and may expire in a month.

In a threatening tone, Lira warned that the decision for the immediate return of the joint committees “will not walk a millimeter in the Chamber and the damage will be for the current government”.

Renan Calheiros pressed to give senators more power

Pacheco’s decision came after a move by Senator Renan Calheiros (MDB-AL). During a meeting on Thursday morning, a point of order raised by Calheiros was evaluated regarding the constitutional obligation of Congress to return to the regular rite of MPs (with mixed commissions) that had been changed due to the pandemic.

Pacheco then announced his decision in plenary, and also in writing, as president of the National Congress.

“I understood that there is no need for another act of the steering committee to determine the return of the full, obvious and clear procedure in the Constitution, due to the end of the restrictions brought about by the pandemic”, he said, contrary to Lira’s position.

Pacheco added that he was also supported by the interpretation of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) on the case, which considered the suspension of commissions exceptional and conditional on the health crisis. “My commitment is to Brazil”, he stressed.

Lira’s reaction was quick and forceful

Even before Pacheco formally presented his decision to the Chamber, Lira reacted energetically against the “truculence” of the Senate, which ordered the creation of joint committees of 12 deputies and 12 senators. In a half-hour speech, Lira promised that she will vote next week on MPs still in the Jair Bolsonaro (PL) government, following the procedure adopted in the pandemic. That is, without commissions and directly in the plenary of the Chamber. But he has not given any sign that he will collaborate with the installation of mixed collegiate bodies.

“The Senate cannot be a hostage of Alagoas or Amapá”, attacked Lira, in a reference to rival Renan Calheiros and Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP), former president of the Senate who holds great power in the Senate and made agreements with the federal government.

Lira says, in turn, that he has the support of the government to maintain the current method of voting for MPs. On the other hand, Pacheco’s power is also related to a political effort by the Executive.

“The obviousness of the text of the Constitution and the end of the health emergency, in April 2022, forced the President of Congress to give this answer, even without knowing what the future developments will be”, said the leader of the government in the Senate, Jaques Wagner ( PT-BA).

Crisis arose when deputies did not want to give up protagonism

The current crisis arose when Arthur Lira did not sign the resolution adopted by Pacheco on February 3 to create the joint commissions, considering that it removes the protagonism of the Chamber that had been gained during the pandemic.

Deputies also resist returning to the constitutional rite for the processing of MPs due to the speed and convenience in approving matters, remotely in a few minutes. The senators do not want the provisional model to continue in order to preserve their equal influence on the texts.

While the crisis continues, Lira has been proposing in the discussion a proposed amendment to the Constitution (PEC) to change the rite of MPs. His goal was not to completely give up the power obtained in the pandemic. He wanted at least an increase in the share of deputies in the composition of collegiate bodies. He also resisted an offer that the texts alternate the initial procedure between the Chamber and the Senate. “The Senate is simply the reviewing House, and it doesn’t want to be”, said Lira.

Last attempt at an agreement took place at lunch and failed

On Wednesday (22), Lira and Pacheco tried for the last time to close an agreement during lunch, but they left there on extreme sides. Despite the backlash, both said they remain open to dialogue. Allies of the two presidents hope that they will be able to talk until Friday (24th), as Pacheco will be out of the country for a week. He will leave on Saturday, the 24th, for China with President Lula.

Article 32 of the Constitution mandates that, upon reaching Congress, PMs must be analyzed by a mixed commission of deputies and senators. During the pandemic, MPs began to process directly in the House plenary, reducing the power of senators. This year, only President Bolsonaro’s MPs were being voted on by the provisional method.

The Lula government is divided on the issue, as it does not have enough support in the Chamber and is concerned about the risk of losing the validity of the measures edited since January.

In addition, the permanence of the impasse is yet another defeat of the political articulation of the PT administration, commanded by the Minister of Institutional Relations, Alexandre Padilha.