The obscure game of political alliances between parliamentarians never really catches the eye. However, it is the election of the new heads of deputies and senators that kept Brazil in suspense, Monday 1is February 2021. Two high-risk votes for President Jair Bolsonaro, who put his last two years in office at stake.
The risks of dismissal swept away
The evening ended in victory for Jair Bolsonaro, who saw his two favorites elected to the head of the legislative power. The Senate is now headed by his ally Rodrigo Pacheco while the House goes to Arthur Lira, elected by 302 votes against 145 for the opposition candidate, Baleia Rossi. The election of Arthur Lira, lawyer, entrepreneur and three times federal deputy was essential for Bolsonaro in order to nip in the bud any impeachment trial.
Because anger swells and takes shape. The Brazil, the second country most affected by the pandemic with more than 225,000 deaths, sees the daily reports exceeding 1,000 deaths follow one another. About fifty impeachment requests are already piling up on the offices of Parliament. A burning issue that falls to the new president of the Chamber of Deputies, the only one able to investigate or reject such a request.
But for the Brazilian President who has no party, the political maneuver is not without risk. To guarantee his peace of mind until the end of his mandate, Jair Bolsonaro relied on the “centrão” of which Arthur Lira is the leader. However, this group of center-right parties is known for its opportunist rather than ideological ambitions … Its support is therefore currency, through promises of positions and investments in the constituencies of deputies …
Bolsonaro, weakened by the second wave
Despite the cries of victory, the alliance therefore remains fragile. Especially since Bolsonaro, who had hitherto avoided a debacle in the polls, is losing momentum. According to the latest survey by the Datafolha institute at the end of January, the President only displayed 31% support against 37% a month before.
At the end of January, the head of state was splashed – and mocked – for suspicion of corruption. The press revealed that the executive’s food budget increased by 20% between 2019 and 2020 for a total of 270 million euros. But it was above all strange expenses that caused the scandal: around 2.5 million dollars in condensed milk and more than 300,000 in chewing gum! Purchases intended for the army
according to Bolsonaro who took the opportunity, as usual, to insult journalists.
Also read. Bolsonaro government’s delusional fresh mouths hang in Brazilians’ throats
But it is above all the pandemic management which stirs up all criticism. The recent images of the state of Amazonas and its capital Manaus deprived of oxygen and hospital beds have left some Brazilians fed up. Worse, according to Attorney General Augusto Aras, the executive had been alerted a few days before of the looming shortage in Manaus, but closed its eyes.
Also read. In Brazil, the Covid-19 suffocates again Manaus
The late, chaotic vaccination campaign and who suffers from the lack of doses adds to the anger. Jair Bolsonaro, who has already announced he would not vaccinate, has not yet presented a clear timetable to vaccinate the 210 million Brazilians.
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