Controversial Pacheco is reelected president of the Brazilian Senate

Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD), arguably one of the most despised Brazilian officials by the right, was re-elected President of the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday, Feb. 1.

He won the first round by beating Rogério Marinho (PL, right), the opposition candidate, by 49 votes to 32.

The victory of Pacheco, elected with a larger number of votes than expected, indicates betrayal by senators previously willing to vote for Marinho.

This week, the parliamentarians posted unofficial voting scores on social networks. The most recent ones showed that Marinho or Girão would receive 38 votes while Pacheco would have only 35.

With the final result, the opposition can hardly approve Proposals for Amendment to the Constitution or Parliamentary Commissions of Inquiry.

Earlier, during a Federal Supreme Court (STF) ceremony, Pacheco said there would be no “framing” of the judiciary.

“The authoritarianism of a non-conformist minority tried to threaten democracy,” he noted, referring to the Jan. 8 demonstrations.

“But the judiciary showed the strength of its resilience.” The statement comes in the wake of arrests of conservatives and inquiries deemed unconstitutional by several judges.

Pacheco’s candidacy received the formal support of the Workers’ Party (PT, progressive-globalist) and the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Marinho’s victory would represent a blow to the party’s pretensions since the former minister defends the impeachment of STF ministers, individual liberties, civil armament, and market freedom, among other issues dear to the 52 million Brazilians who did not choose the current president.

The reelection of the Senate president also occurred despite the petition against his victory. More than 170 thousand people signed the document.

The signers believe that Pacheco is not committed to his institutional duty and the fulfillment of the Constitution.

Marinho, in this scenario, would be able to bring “social peace, legal security, and the necessary balance to the constituted powers,” says the document.

Marinho’s candidacy was boosted by the withdrawal, minutes before voting began, of Senator Eduardo Girão (Podemos-CE).

“The possibility of being president of this House would allow me to do many things,” he said when announcing his support for Marinho.

“I did my part to make this candidacy possible. But I recognize that it was not possible. My vote and my support are yours. May you be the renewal of millions of Brazilians.”