According to Folha, Eunício is not fit to preside over the Senate.
Even though Eunício denies involvement in the events reported by the informant, and even though he is not currently the target of a known formal investigation within the scope of Lava Jato, the mere mention of his name in a discreditable episode should be enough to create dissent in the election, says an editorial in Folha de S. Paulo, this Monday.
Ceará 247 – In an editorial published this Monday, Folha de S. Paulo criticizes the likely victory of Senator Eunício Oliveira (PMDB-CE) for the presidency of the Senate. Check it out:
Senatorial disconnection
In the PMDB party in the Senate, the most influential politicians are the Senate President, Renan Calheiros (AL), and the government leader, Romero Jucá (RR). Since the Constitution prohibits the reelection of the former, and since the latter's name is associated with several scandals, Eunício Oliveira (CE) has consolidated his position in the race. by the leadership of the Board of Directors, which will take place on Wednesday (1st).
Even though he was a sort of third option on his party's ticket, Eunício obtained cross-party consensus. From left to right, congressmen justify their support based on the principle of proportionality. With 19 senators, the PMDB boasts the largest bloc.
Some even express discomfort at the possibility of the PMDB member being brought down by Operation Lava Jato, but they quickly give in to the appeals of pragmatism. This is because the winner's allies are guaranteed privileged access to prominent positions in the plenary and committees.
Otherwise, the situation of the senator from Ceará is not the worst. For now, Eunício has only been mentioned in the plea bargain testimony of Cláudio Melo Filho, former director of Odebrecht. According to the executive, the PMDB member—codename "Índio"—received R$ 2,1 million to endorse a provisional measure that benefited the construction company.
Those who advocate for him highlight the conciliatory profile of one of the first PMDB members to embrace Lula's political movement (he was Minister of Communications from 2004 to 2005). Furthermore, Eunício maintained discretion during the impeachment process.
In his first term in the Senate, he is considered more modern than the last two presidents of the House, Renan Calheiros and José Sarney – which isn't saying much.
His characteristics certainly qualify him to lead votes of interest to the government, but parliamentarians should have realized long ago that society demands other factors in this equation.
Even though Eunício denies involvement in the events reported by the informant, and even though he is not currently the target of a known formal investigation within the scope of Lava Jato, the mere mention of his name in a discreditable episode should be enough to create dissent in the election.
It's worth remembering that Congress is registering its worst approval rating in the historical series of the Datafolha institute (58% of those interviewed consider it bad or terrible) and that, in December, tens of thousands of people joined a protest targeting the Legislative branch.
The fact that there is no parliamentarian capable of rivaling Eunício Oliveira in the race only demonstrates how far removed the Senate remains from the streets.