"We are facing a Congress eager for power, but lacking responsibility," says Jorge Folena.

247 - In interview with the program good night 247In his article, lawyer and political scientist Jorge Folena offered an in-depth analysis of the growing influence of the National Congress within the Brazilian power structure and the consequences of the weakening of the Executive branch. According to Folena, the Legislative branch has assumed a role that exceeds its institutional prerogatives, representing a risk to democracy. "We are facing a Congress eager for power, but lacking responsibility," he stated.

The political scientist highlighted that this progress is not recent, but part of a process that began in 2015 with the implementation of mandatory amendments. This mechanism has intensified in recent years, especially during the Bolsonaro administration. "He handed the government over to the Centrão (center-right bloc) and consolidated a Congress that today holds immense power over the Union's budget," he explained.

Semi-presidentialism in motion

According to Folena, semi-presidentialism is being implemented gradually and silently in Brazil, removing the Executive branch's autonomy over the budget and transferring this power to the Legislative branch. "This has been under construction since 2015, and the Supreme Federal Court is participating in this process," he warned. According to him, the movement around this new model of government has the support of sectors of the ruling class seeking a more efficient model of control over the country.

He recalls that the debate about semi-presidentialism resurfaced after the impeachment of former President Dilma Rousseff and gained more strength in the Temer government, which, due to its fragility, ceded a large part of budgetary control to Congress. "The Supreme Court discusses transparency, but does not question the constitutionality of this encroachment by the Legislative branch on the powers of the Executive branch," he criticized.

The risk of a government held hostage by Congress.

The expert warns that this structure could result in a government increasingly dependent on Congress, which weakens its ability to govern. "The Brazilian ruling class has realized that it has difficulty winning governments through votes and, therefore, seeks a way to guarantee control without needing a fair electoral contest," he stated.

Folena cited the attempt to create a political consensus that could lead to the acceptance of semi-presidentialism without a major popular reaction. "They will implement it gradually, removing powers from the Executive branch, weakening governments, and building this narrative to, at a certain point, make the change irreversible," he warned.

Bolsonaro and the fight against fascism

When addressing Bolsonaro's ineligibility and the attempt by Bolsonaro's supporters to reverse this situation, Folena assessed that there is no room for amnesty. "Bolsonaro broke the Brazilian political agreement. He wanted to establish a dictatorship, that's clear," he stated. According to him, the former president cannot be pardoned politically or legally, as his actions went far beyond what is permitted by the democratic regime.

The fight against the far-right and the rise of fascism in Brazil was also one of the central themes of the interview. "The biggest struggle of 2025 will be confronting fascism in Brazil," said Folena, emphasizing that popular and democratic movements need to be organized to stop the rise of these political groups.

The 2026 race has already begun.

Finally, Folena highlighted that the race for the presidency in 2026 has been underway since the first day of Lula's government. According to him, the ruling class has surrounded the government, creating economic and political difficulties to undermine the Workers' Party administration. "If Lula wins in 2026, the pressure for semi-presidentialism will increase. They want a model where they can continue to rule without having to contest elections with the risk of defeat," he concluded. Watch: