If before the climate was of optimism among the government supporters for the election of Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG) in the Senate, the situation has now reversed, with several parliamentarians from the support base declaring a public vote for the election of Senator Rogério Marinho (PL-RN ).| Photo: EFE/Jarbas Oliveira

The base of support for President Lula’s government (PT) predicts a very narrow victory for Senator Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG) in his eventual reappointment to the presidency of the Senate. A spreadsheet made by government officials and published on the website Power360 shows that Pacheco’s count in the election dropped to 2 or 3 votes ahead. The survey, according to the publication, was based on the movements of the federal government in Congress.

If before the climate was of optimism among the government supporters, the situation has now reversed with several parliamentarians of the situation declaring public support for the election of senator Rogério Marinho (PL-RN). Senators from Pacheco’s own party, in addition to the MDB and the PSDB leader, have already declared their vote for the former minister of former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL). As the vote is secret, eventual “betrayals” are not ruled out by the government supporters. Marinho’s supporters already publish messages in their social networks celebrating the “turn”.

The winner of the Senate election will be the one who has an absolute majority of votes (at least 41 of the 81 senators). If no one wins a majority in the first round, there will be a second round of voting with the two best voted. The session to elect the new president of the Senate begins when the plenary has a minimum quorum of 41 senators.

The election for the presidency of the Senate, this Wednesday (1st), has three candidates: the current president of the House, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), candidate for re-election; Senator-elect Rogério Marinho (PL-RN); and Senator Eduardo Girão (Podemos-CE). Pacheco has the support of the parliamentary base of the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). Marinho, former minister of the government of Jair Bolsonaro (PL), is the main name of the opposition. Girão runs on the outside, as a self-declared “independent” candidate.