Humberto Costa is the new leader of the PT (Workers' Party) in the Senate.
Senator Humberto Costa (PT-PE) is the new leader of the party in the Senate. Humberto replaces Senator Wellington Dias (PT-PI). The change was decided unanimously at a meeting this Tuesday (4) in the leadership office; Humberto said that, in the Senate, the party has the challenge of making the political defense of the government and trying to maintain a Senate composition that guarantees a majority political body.
The Senate Agency - Senator Humberto Costa (PT-PE) is the new leader of the party in the Senate. Humberto replaces Senator Wellington Dias (PT-PI). The change was decided unanimously at a meeting this Tuesday (4) in the leadership office.
Humberto said that, in the Senate, the party faces the challenge of politically defending the government and trying to maintain a Senate composition that guarantees a political majority.
– The leadership challenge is, primarily, to politically defend the government, to advance on points to complement President Dilma's government project that, in this first term, still lack a decision from the National Congress, and, above all, to address society also with regard to the future composition of the Senate, and the need for us to have a majority political body here.
The new PT leader in the Senate explained that the party adopts a one-year term for leadership and a rotation among senators. The idea is that everyone can have the experience of leading the party's caucus in the House. Humberto was the PT leader in 2011.
– Although I have already been a leader, at this moment, the understanding of the majority was that, without breaking this commitment, I could help a little more with all this work of the PT – he said. This is the second time that Humberto has assumed the position of party leader in the Upper House. He had already held this position in 2011.
The senator from Pernambuco has refuted the idea that the legislative agenda will be harmed by this year's elections. "Congress has a lot of work to do, there's a lot to discuss and vote on," he explained. "Just because this is an election year doesn't mean it's a lost cause. In 2012, we also had elections, and the Chamber and Senate voted on very important projects for Brazil."
The PT (Workers' Party) caucus in the Senate currently has 13 members. Senator Gleisi Hoffmann (PR), who returned to the Senate after being replaced by Aloízio Mercadante as head of the Civil House, also participated in the vote that elected Humberto. Marta Suplicy (SP), 14a The senator from the party has been on leave since September 2012, when she took over the Ministry of Culture.
* With information from the press office.