See Pacheco’s contradictions in clash with Powers – 11/06/2023 – Power

The president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), rejected the Bolsonarist accusation this Monday (6) and denied discomfort with the STF (Supreme Federal Court) and the government. Despite this, he has led a series of initiatives against the court in the House, in which Planalto has already suffered symbolic defeats.

In relation to the court, it has made statements in favor of a mandate for ministers and signals to guide the vote on a PEC (Proposed Amendment to the Constitution) limiting requests for review and monocratic decisions.

The government saw in the Senate the rejection of the name of public defender Igor Roque for command of the DPU (Union Public Defender’s Office) by 38 votes against and 35 in favor — a surprising result even for the opposition.

Pacheco tries to nod to conservatives and Bolsonarists for a successor in the presidency of the Senate in 2025, and also for the 2026 election, where he is considered in the dispute for the Government of Minas Gerais.

See contradictions between Pacheco’s speech and reality in the dispute between the National Congress and the STF:

Anti-STF agenda

After retired minister Rosa Weber guided actions considered controversial in the Supreme Court, Pacheco began to support agendas against the court that are identified with senators linked to Bolsonaro.

The president of the Senate filed a PEC prohibiting the possession and possession of any drug in response to the judgment on the decriminalization of substances for personal use. Afterwards, he started to defend that Supreme Court ministers have a mandate.

Furthermore, the Senate’s CCJ (Constitution and Justice Commission) approved, at the drop of a hat, a PEC limiting monocratic decisions and requests for review in higher courts. Now the text goes to the plenary, and Pacheco has signaled that he will take it to a vote.

He stated this Monday that criticism of the proposal that limits monocratic decisions comes from people who do not know the text and stated that he sees as “very poor” the idea that the discussions are a nod to the extreme right — a statement made by the president of the PT, Gleisi Hoffmann.

Bolsonaro’s praise and Gilmar’s criticism

Amid the offensive against the actions of the STF, former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) praised Pacheco when speaking to parliamentarians from the ruralist bench for the statements and proposals being processed in the Senate.

“The issue of the imbalance between the Powers. I received the news, just now, that a certain proposal is going forward in the Senate, congratulations to the president of the Senate”, stated the former president on the 24th.

Gilmar Mendes reacted to the President of the House’s statement about the creation of a mandate for members of the Supreme Court and stated that “from what is said, the proposal will be accompanied by the allocation of vacancies, to the benefit of certain bodies”.

In a debate with the participation of Pacheco, on the 14th, Gilmar made new criticisms and stated that the court was one of those responsible for carrying out the election of Lula (PT) last year.

He highlighted the need for reforms between the Powers thought in global terms, including discussion of the government system and parliamentary amendments. He also jokingly said that Pacheco would be “a great candidate for the Supreme Court.”

Government defeats

This Monday, Pacheco said that the senators would not be irresponsible to reject a Lula nomination just to send messages. He referred to public defender Igor Roque, who was barred from commanding the DPU by 38 votes against and 35 in favor. The vote took place two weeks ago.

Igor Roque’s rejection is read as a warning to the government in a process of low interest. Complaints range from a lack of political articulation to the demands of members of the Senate, ranging from the release of amendments to the appointment of allies in the government.

The House became a minefield for the Planalto, confirming the difficulty of the PT administration in building a solid foundation.

Another significant defeat occurred at the end of September with the approval, by 43 to 21, of a project that regulates the time frame for the demarcation of indigenous lands. The thesis had been declared unconstitutional by the STF and was discussed in Congress in reaction to the Judiciary.

Political future

The increase in temperature between Pacheco and the other Powers has to do with the political future of the current senator. Parliamentarians observe an effort by the President of the House to approach the opposition to the Lula government with a view to paving the way for the election of his successor in 2025.

Supporters still assess that, embedded in Pacheco’s calculation, is the need for protagonism with a view to his own political future in 2026, when his term in the Senate ends. PSD leaders are already mentioning the senator’s name as a strong option to run for the Government of Minas.