What is the position of the PL in Congress: opposition or government?

The Liberal Party (PL) promises a posture of opposition to the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) in Congress, but with “respect for individualities”, say parliamentarians of the party. That is, the acronym will respect the political plurality of its benches in the Senate, where there is greater cohesion of ideas, and in the Chamber, where there is a division between center, center-right and right-wing deputies.

Holder of the largest bench in the Chamber, with 99 federal deputies, and the second largest in the Senate, with 12 senators, the PL has parliamentarians who promise to make a more combative and ideological opposition to the government and even those who do not rule out forming Lula’s base.

The party’s national president, Valdemar Costa Neto, advises that the party should lead the opposition, but, aware of some divergent interests, says he understands the interest of some politicians for parliamentary amendments. Therefore, he will not impede those who seek some contact with the Lula government, above all to negotiate the release of resources for their states in exchange for votes aligned with the Planalto Palace.

However, Valdemar has guided the benches to “avoid” the request for positions, privately assure two deputies of the acronym. According to the parliamentarians, the negotiation for positions would be for Valdemar a gesture of a very close and close relationship for a party that is willing to be an opposition party. It never hurts to remember that the PL is the legend of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

For now, however, the deputies assess that there is no strong and organized movement to approach the government. “Isolated, yes, there are some who have a tendency to approach the government, but it is a minority, it is not a party position. There is no dissent”, says a deputy.

In the same way that Valdemar has oriented the deputies more to the center in relation to the Lula government, he has also appealed for the more right-wing legislators to carry out their mandates and criticize them energetically, but without direct and incisive attacks on a power like the Supreme Court. Federal Court (STF). The agent understands, however, that disagreements with decisions taken are appropriate within the respect for freedom of expression, as long as they are considered.

How is the division of the PL and what is the position of each wing of the party

The wing of parliamentarians more to the center of the PL concentrates those more disposed to a position of neutrality towards the government and even some interested in joining Lula’s base. They are deputies that have a more municipalist characteristic, so they tend to be very dependent on the transfer of resources from the Union to their electoral bases. Even for this reason they wave positively to the government.

In the Senate, this group is a minority. Some even cite only Senator Romário (PL-RJ) in a more municipalist condition. In the Chamber, some deputies estimate that this group may vary between 15 and 20 deputies depending on the agenda, but deputy Carlos Jordy (PL-RJ), leader of the opposition, understands that even among those more in the center there are those who agree with the idea of opposition.

“There is something around 20 or so deputies, who are more from the center, who also agree that we should be the opposition. It is a minority that are, let’s say, municipalists, or that are from strongholds where the PT is very strong, or that there is opportunism, were re-elected by the [ex-] president Bolsonaro and now they want to go to Lula’s side and have their blessings,” he says.

The center-right group of the PL is composed of conservative deputies who preach a “moderate opposition”, who are willing to vote and take a stand against the PT administration, but to vote in favor when they understand that the agenda is favorable to the country. It is made up of a majority in Congress, both in the Senate and in the House.

Among these conservatives, some support the building of a moderate right wing independent of former President Bolsonaro. With respect to the influence and votes obtained in the last election, others believe that the former chief executive needs to participate in the reorganization process and cannot be excluded from the debate.

The right wing is made up of deputies who are more sympathetic and aligned with Bolsonaro, who proposes to make a more combative and even ideological opposition to Lula. According to two deputies, they reach something close to 30 deputies. The group most loyal to Bolsonaro is more willing to keep Bolsonaro’s political capital alive and defend the legacy of the former administration.

Jordy assures, however, that there is no split in the party. “There is no hostile climate, because, as I said, there is a large majority that defends us being the opposition”, he comments. The opposition leader also claims that the vast majority defends Bolsonaro’s legacy and considers it wrong to say that some do not.

“The basis of [ex-]President Bolsonaro, the right wing in the party, everyone defends his legacy and no one wants to take off from the president’s image. It is an opposition party, there is no neutrality, so much so that, because we are an opposition party, we were given the leadership of the opposition. We are the biggest opposition party to the current government in the Chamber”, says Jordy.

Deputy Bibo Nunes (PL-RS) proposes an “opposition with balance and respect” and understands that the majority of the party will adopt a similar position. “Some can remain neutral and independent and others are radical, but they are a minority. I am a Bolsonarist, but I am not a radical; I am a firm and strong opposition, but I am not an extremist”, he says.

What do the party benches think of the freedom given by Valdemar

Valdemar Costa Neto’s posture has surprised deputies. Some were not satisfied with the veto of a separate PL candidacy for the presidency of the Chamber, but the balance is positive so far. The argument is that the party leader is, in fact, willing to “supervise” the Lula government and keep his party on the path of right-wing coordination.

Deputies ensure that Valdemar’s willingness to keep the party in opposition to the government is not just in speech. It is said that he has respected the history and worldview of each PL parliamentarian and has guided his opposition parliamentarians on the importance of rigorously overseeing the Lula government and his team.

Deputy Zé Vitor (PL-MG) praises the leader’s understanding of the particularities of each parliamentarian. “Valdemar has been leading the group very well, he has guided the group collectively, suggesting an opposition, but respecting the individuality and history of each one.

Deputy Bia Kicis (PL-DF) praises Valdemar’s attitude in leading the opposition and says she is positively surprised. “It’s impressive, I think everyone was very surprised,” she says. “He’s been extremely firm, he’s stayed close to the [ex-]president, did not refuse at any time and we can see that he really wants and is interested in conducting this movement of being at the forefront together with the leaders, the [ex-]president Bolsonaro, with Michelle [Bolsonaro]with the natural leaders, the elected senators”, he adds.

President of the PL district directory, Bia claims that Valdemar has had freedom to lead the process of mobilization and work at the grassroots with the female, youth, and other thematic directories, such as those focused on entrepreneurship, health and transport. “There are several fronts that we are going to mobilize the population to hear the demands and take them to Parliament”, she says. “We want to work, we can’t let this base lose, which is a spontaneous, organic base, something the PT doesn’t have, and we need to keep it alive and firm, that’s our role”, he adds.

The idea of ​​a portion of the party having the freedom to nod to the government, however, generates the displeasure of the opposition leadership, admits deputy Carlos Jordy. “It is obvious that we have discomfort with those who want to signal that they are base. And we have already expressed that, that we will not accept people wanting to demonstrate that they are base”, he comments.

Jordy understands that a vote in favor of more controversial projects defended by Lula would require a firm position from the party. “If they want to make their votes together with the PT, depending on the type of vote, it will be up to the party to make the due punishment, since they will be in disagreement with the orientation of being opposition to the Lula government”, he affirms.

Deputy Bibo Nunes agrees and claims that the hypothesis of physiological agreements related to positions is inadmissible. “I think it’s very difficult [de ocorrer], and if you do, I’ll ask you to kick me out. I’m not radical, but it has to be coherent. This is not radicalism, it is coherence “, she points out.