Brazil’s “Centrão” articulates block with 300 deputies to reelect Lira as House president

Leaders of parties of center, representing 5 of the 7 largest benches elected to the House, articulate the formation of a block with about 300 deputies that, if successful, will pave the re-election of Arthur Lira (PP-AL) to the presidency of the House and guarantee the legends the command of all major committees.

In a videoconference with representatives of the financial market on Tuesday, November 1, the leader of União Brasil in the House, Elmar Nascimento (Bahia), said that the “bloc” under discussion would be composed, besides his own party, by Jair Bolsonaro’s PL (Liberal Party, right), PP, PSD, Republicans, and PSDB. Together, they add up to 301 elected deputies.

“Even yesterday [October 31], we had several meetings about this with the president of the House, which is trying to be reproduced in the format of making a bloc [that] would assure to these parties not only the election of the Board of the House but also predominance over all the committees of the Legislative Branch,” said Elmar in the virtual meeting.

With this contingent of deputies, any proposal that the government of President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Workers’ Party – PT, left) wants to approve in Congress would have to be negotiated with the “blocão”.

“This does not mean to say that there will be any difficulty [with] governability. Quite the opposite. I think that [the bloc] has to establish a very high-level relationship with the government, which presupposes respect for the Legislative branch,” said Elmar.

On Tuesday, November 1, the president of the PT, Gleisi Hoffmann, announced that the vice-president-elect, Geraldo Alckmin (PSB), will be the coordinator of the transition team for the new government.

Besides him, Gleisi herself and Aloizio Mercadante, who coordinated Lula da Silva’s government program, will also be coordinating.

On another front, the PT political group is working to influence the preparation of the 2023 Budget.

Former governor and senator-elect Wellington Dias (PT-PI) is coordinating a group that will meet with the Budget’s general rapporteur, Senator Marcelo Castro (MDB-PI).

In a conversation with financial market agents on Tuesday (Nov. 1), the leader of the União Brasil party in the House showed that the “blocão” would seek to do the same and defended the current format of the rapporteur’s amendments, which have been called the “secret budget”.

“There is nothing secret about it. It is a budget that creates a line item of PR9 [primary result 9] that is in the hands of the budget rapporteur but that is widely debated, divided proportionally among the party leaders, and distributed within their caucuses.

“What needs to be done? We need to bring a more objective criterion to this distribution of these resources and absolute transparency”, said Elmar.

TAILORED SUPPORT

In an interview with Poder360 on Monday, October 31, Elmar did not rule out possible support for Lula da Silva’s government.

According to the deputy, the proposals brought by the government have to be “within the parameters of fiscal responsibility”.

“What everyone defends is union; there is no third round. Whoever won needs to know that he will govern for everyone,” he said.

Nascimento’s statement fits in with Lira’s statement right after the TSE (Supreme Electoral Court) recognized Lula da Silva’s victory.

In his speech, the mayor said that the result of the ballot box should be respected.

“It is necessary to listen to the voice of all, even the divergent ones, and work to meet the widest aspirations,” he declared.

With information from Poder360