Have Dilma and Eduardo Cunha already made peace?

247 - An emblematic image captured during the ceremony commemorating Army Day and the awarding of the Order of Military Merit, held in Brasília, may signify a rapprochement between President Dilma Rousseff and the Speaker of the House, Eduardo Cunha (PMDB-RJ).

Yesterday, the Planalto Palace officially appointed former Speaker of the House Henrique Eduardo Alves (PMDB-RN) to the Ministry of Tourism, a name that had the support of Vice President Michel Temer and especially Cunha. The congressman was honored and received a medal from the president during the ceremony.

Asked after the ceremony if the appointment could be considered a victory for him, he replied: "He is an exceptional figure, so for us it is always an honor and a source of pride. I don't have to consider it a victory or a defeat. It is a source of pride for any government to have Henrique in its ministry."

But the truth is that the president's nomination of Alves is seen as a nod to Eduardo Cunha, who has been acting as opposition in Congress, despite being part of the PMDB, the largest allied party in the government.

The congressman has been reviving or accelerating projects that bother the presidential palace, such as the constitutional amendment to reduce the age of criminal responsibility, which had been stalled for four years in the Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ). Cunha changed the composition of the committee and accelerated the voting on the project, which received criticism from President Dilma this week.

Another controversial point defended by Cunha is Bill 4.330, which deals with the regulation of outsourcing. Although Dilma has not expressed opposition or support for the proposal, sectors of the PT (Workers' Party) and former president Lula are harsh critics. The bill has also been targeted by the country's largest labor unions, which have been organizing frequent demonstrations.