Hit with centrão could be Lula’s defining move 3 – 07/11/2023 – Bruno Boghossian

“You have to have a majority, otherwise you’ll kill yourself”, summarized Lula when defending the opening of the government’s doors to the centrão. The decision to give generous spaces to Arthur Lira’s union could become a defining political move for the PT’s third term.

Lula liked what he saw in the Chamber last week. The deputies delivered two consumer dreams of any ruler: they approved a change in the Constitution that seemed unattainable and unlocked the vote on an item considered crucial by the economic team.

The petista wants the tranquility of what was dubbed the “superweek” for the remainder of his term. He gave the go-ahead for a mini-ministerial reform, laid the foundations for a new relationship with the centrão and indicated that the government is willing to pay a reasonable price for support —by housing the group in portfolios occupied by the PT and in positions considered crown jewels, like Box.

The agreement could lead to the orbit of the PP government and Republicans (two Bolsonarist pillars) and renew the agreement with União Brasil. The idea is to receive the adhesion of entire blocks of each party, making the political operation of the Planalto less dependent on retail negotiations.

The centrão promises to bring the government closer to a base of 280 deputies, a consolidated majority. Dozens of other parliamentarians would vote in favor of the Planalto in some projects – including PL names supplied by the government machine and by the new centrão ministers.

Lula’s organizers do not expect support for proposals with clear stamps from the left or any mischief in the economy. The main objectives are to gain stability to run the day to day, approve projects that increase the popularity of the PT and prevent the centrão from using the so-called bomb guidelines to pressure the Planalto.

The expansion of the government club also increases a risk of scandals that is no longer negligible in the current configuration. The agreement will be a test for the post-Lava Jato policy.

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