Nominees come from the military dictatorship and became political capital – 03/04/2023 – Politics

Before I cut to the chase, every official event is preceded by a potential yawn catalyst.

Reading the nominatas (list of authorities present), often in a monotone, can snatch up a few initial minutes of these ceremonies and raise doubts about the need to maintain a protocol practice regulated by a decree of more than half a century ago.

There is, on the other hand, a political value in formality, according to who circulates in Brasilia in the tribunes or backstage.

“When you quote someone, it’s a sign of prestige. This is relevant, that’s why they do it. It’s that old saying: those who are not seen, are not remembered”, says deputy Sóstenes Cavalcante (PL-RJ), who led the evangelical bench in 2022 and today occupies the 2nd Vice-Presidency of the Chamber.

The decree that approved the norms for public ceremonies, which cover the order of importance of authorities, was sanctioned in 1972 by Emílio Garrastazu Médici, one of the generals who presided over Brazil during the military dictatorship.

The text establishes a hierarchy among the guests. Ceremonialists, who are primarily responsible for organizing an event, gained criteria for placing those present at the solemn tables and in the quotes that open the official speech.

President and vice president head this list, followed immediately by cardinals — reverence for a Brazil that, at the time, was almost entirely Catholic.

The wording establishes that these ecclesiastical figures, “possible successors of the pope, have a situation corresponding to that of the crown princes”. Other dozens of public characters are recognized there, from the lieutenant-brigadier to members of the ABL (Brazilian Academy of Letters).

“Nominates have the function of advertising, identification, recognition and highlight. In this way, their political relevance is evident. Cards that come with any mistakes can cause great discomfort”, says Ana Tereza Lyra Campos Meirelles, head of ceremonial of the Presidency of the Senate.

A lawyer with the title of expert in ceremonial and protocol from the Spanish University of Oviedo, it was she who organized the inauguration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) in Congress, on the first day of 2023.

The origin of this scale of importance is the same decree that stipulates rules applied until today for the inauguration of the Chief Executive, who was not elected by the population in those days, but imposed by the Armed Forces.

If the indirect elections lapsed, the norms set there to organize official ceremonies remain until today — a compass for the other Powers, Judiciary and Legislative, and for the state and municipal spheres.

“I don’t see an attempt at modernization,” says Ana Rosa Domingues dos Santos, a professor at the Center for Excellence in Tourism at the University of Brasilia. “Particularly because, due to the characteristics of the ceremonial, the rules tend to be a little more focused on maintaining traditions.”

A tradition that can be adapted to serve the diplomacy of power. Lula, with political flexibility recognized even by his opponents, is an expert at this.

When, in February, he gave a speech in Maruim (SE), at the event that marked the resumption of works on the BR-101, the PT even saluted the “companions” of the authorities present, in addition to honoring an ally with no official position, Jackson Barreto, former -Governor of Sergipe.

In the same week, it took more than five minutes at the re-launch ceremony of Minha Casa, Minha Vida in Santo Amaro (BA) to greet 14 authorities — Minister Wellington Dias (Development and Social Assistance), “the most famous Indian in Brazil”, to Marli Carrara, “fellow representative of the National Union for Popular Housing”. She explained: “Talking to her, I’m greeting all the people who participate in the housing movement in Brazil”.

The use of nominata for political cafunés is, in the assessment of the category, a tool to strengthen alliances.

Remembering, let’s say, the president of Congress can be just a formality like so many others, but a mayor from the interior, for example, might leave feeling proud, thinking of a thousand ways to exploit the name of the President of the Republic.

A shot that, however, can backfire. A former ceremonialist who played in Rio de Janeiro’s bands recalls the day when an official, upon reading the nominata, “forgot” to register the presence of the local foe — who left the event before the end, fuming.

“It has a touch of the principle of reciprocity, ‘you honor my event, and I honor your presence'”, says Ana Tereza Meirelles, the Senate ceremonialist.

“I’m sure you’ve heard ‘so-and-so representing so-and-so’ at some ceremony, because the important thing is to be remembered, present in some way. The absence of this memory can generate a lot of dissatisfaction. have been mentioned.”

Premeditated or not, improvisations happen. But each sphere of power, from the university to the court, usually has its own ceremonialist manual.

The one from the Government of the Federal District brings tips to streamline an event. One is to shorten the time spent alluding to authorities who have appeared.

The handout also suggests generalizing the mentions, something along the lines of “we thank the military authorities for their presence”. The procedure “avoids embarrassment and the risk of important authorities not being cited”.