Rogério Marinho is chosen leader of the opposition in the Senate – 06/02/2023 – Politics

Senator and former minister Rogério Marinho (PL-RN) was chosen leader of the opposition in the Senate. Marinho’s name was endorsed not only by the PL, but also by the PP and the Republicans, parties that supported the government of Jair Bolsonaro (PL) in Congress.

Bolsonaro’s former Minister of Regional Development, Marinho received 32 votes in the election for Senate president, on Wednesday (1st), and lost office to Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG) – who got 49 votes and was re-elected.

Marinho’s name as leader of the opposition was defined this Monday (6). The vacancy was also coveted by Senator Carlos Portinho (PL-RJ), leader of the Bolsonaro government in the Senate.

With Marinho’s announcement, the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) will face a trio of former Bolsonaro ministers in the Senate. Tereza Cristina (PP-MS), former Minister of Agriculture, will be leader of the PP.

Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI), former Minister of the Civil House, will be leader of the parliamentary minority. The minority brings together the party or group of parties that opposes the so-called parliamentary majority, party or party bloc of those in the majority.

Bolsonaro’s eldest son, Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), will continue to lead the PL. Senator Mecias de Jesus (Republicanos-RR) will be leader of the Republicans — the acronym of former Vice President Hamilton Mourão (RS) and former Minister Damares Alves (DF).

PL, Progressives and Republicans formed a parliamentary bloc called Vanguarda. Together, the three parties bring together 22 senators – of which seven were part of the Bolsonaro government.

The subtitles at the base of the current government were divided into two blocks. PT, PSD and PSB formed the Democratic Resistance bloc. With 28 members, the block will be the second largest in the House.

The MDB and União Brasil, which featured ministers on the Esplanada, joined Podemos, PDT, PSDB and Rede and formed the largest party bloc, with 31 members. The leader of the majority will be one of the senators of the group, baptized as Democracy.

The formation of the two blocs was the reason for public clashes in Lula’s base. On Friday (3), Renan Calheiros (MDB-AL) complained that PT, PSD and PSB broke an agreement to form a single government bloc and decided to join without the MDB and União Brasil.

Senator Eliziane Gama (PSD-MA), newly affiliated with the PSD, responded promptly and accused the MDB of Calheiros itself of failing to comply with the agreement and asking Sergio Moro (União-PR) for help to attract Podemos and PSDB —which shelter Bolsonarist senators.

The initial negotiations at the base of the government involved only seven parties: PT, PSD, PSB, MDB, União Brasil, PDT and Rede. Rachados, Podemos and PSDB did not take a stand in the dispute between Pacheco and Marinho, but delivered votes to Bolsonaro’s former minister.

The size of the party blocks is decisive in the composition of the 14 permanent committees of the House and in the choice of the president. Traditionally, the definition of the president of the commissions follows the proportionality of the blocks and parties.

The CCJ (Constitution and Justice Commission), considered the most important in both the Senate and the Chamber, was promised by the group that supported Pacheco’s reelection to former Senate President Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP).

The CAE (Economic Affairs Commission), the second most important, should stay with the PSD. The party should nominate senator Vanderlan Cardoso (PSD-GO) to chair the committee.

The CRE (Commission on Foreign Relations) is disputed between the MDB and the PT. The PT supported the name of emedebista Veneziano Vital do Rêgo (MDB-PB) for the vice-presidency of the Senate and hopes that the MDB will give up the CRE, in return.

In the MDB, the most cited name is that of Renan Calheiros; in the PT, that of Humberto Costa (PT-PE). Lula’s party can also stay with the CAS (Social Affairs Commission) or the CDH (Human Rights Commission).

Defeated in the dispute for the presidency of the Senate, the PL ended up without positions on the board of directors of the House and is now trying to negotiate space in commissions. On Thursday (2), Flávio Bolsonaro made an appeal for Pacheco to contemplate the party’s internal divisions.

“I think that, at this moment, as always, I believed that it is politics that solves things. We are going to spend four years here still living together, each one working”, said Flávio Bolsonaro during the session.

“I am convinced that you, as president, also understand this way. So that no congressman suffers any type of possible reprisal, especially with regard to the commissions”, he added.