From the Centrão to Paulo Marinho: thank you!

By Helena Chagas, for the blog The Divergent e Journalists for Democracy

The interview given by businessman and former ally Paulo Marinho to Mônica Bergamo in Folha de S.Paulo, strengthening the investigations surrounding the president's interference in the Federal Police, was a kind of gift to the Centrão (center-right bloc). This group, which had been complaining about the piecemeal appointments to government positions in exchange for their support against impeachment in the Chamber of Deputies, is now seeing the ink of Jair Bolsonaro's pen.

Faced with an increasingly uncomfortable situation, the Planalto Palace accelerated the appointments and began to cede the "crown jewels" to the Centrão (center-right bloc), giving Valdemar Costa Neto's PL party one of the directorates of the FNDE (National Fund for the Development of Education), which has a fabulous budget of R$54 billion. In the coming days, or hours, the presidency of the agency will be given to the PP (Progressive Party). Other appointments, such as to the Itaipu board, were also rushed through, indicating that the Official Gazette will be overflowing with information.

The complaints of ideological minister Abraham Weintraub were to no avail. Between him and the Centrão (center-right bloc), Bolsonaro has already made his choice clear. No one will be surprised if the minister ends up – finally – leaving his post in the coming weeks. The structure and balance of power in the Bolsonaro government has changed, and behind the scenes in Congress, the talk is that the next place where the centrists will strike is in the top ranks. They will want ministries. To keep functioning in "survival mode," Bolsonaro will end up having to give in.