Open voting causes a "short circuit" in the PSDB.
The analysis comes from journalist Josias de Souza; according to him, while Carlos Sampaio (PSDB-SP), leader in the Chamber of Deputies, stated that there is no such thing as "half-transparency," the leader in the Senate, Aloysio Nunes (PSDB-SP), described the measure as "a shot in the ear."
247 - The open vote in Congress split the PSDB caucus, exposing a clear divergence between the caucuses in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Read below the analysis by journalist Josias de Souza, from UOL:
Open voting causes a short circuit in the PSDB.
The debate over ending secret voting in Congress revealed a new side of the PSDB party. It was already known that the party members disagreed on essential points. Now it's clear that they can't agree on the details either. A short circuit has occurred between the PSDB in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
By unanimous vote, the PSDB (Brazilian Social Democracy Party) bloc of deputies voted in favor of the constitutional amendment that eliminates secret voting in all its forms. PSDB leader in the Chamber of Deputies, Carlos Sampaio (SP), defended the argument that there is no such thing as partial transparency.
“As long as this House does not echo the indignation of society, we will not be respected. If society wants open voting, let's bring it into this House,” said Sampaio. Deputy Vanderlei Macris (SP), vice-leader of the PSDB, endorsed him: “The relationship between the voter and their representative must be transparent, therefore we understand that open voting needs to happen in all circumstances.”
For Senator Aloysio Nunes (SP), leader of the PSDB in the Senate, the adoption of indiscriminate open voting "is an act of institutional recklessness." He believes that, "from the opposition's perspective, it's more than shooting themselves in the foot: it's shooting themselves in the ear."
Aloysio declares himself in favor of open voting for the removal of mandates. But he defends secret voting for other votes. For example: analysis of presidential vetoes and Executive nominations for public office.
Going down to examples, the senator from the PSDB party lashed out: “The Chamber approved open voting for the selection of the Attorney General of the Republic and ministers of the Supreme Federal Court. One has the power to propose criminal action against a federal parliamentarian, the other, to judge him. It puts everyone in a situation of potential suspicion. It's downright indecent.”
Amidst the cracked glass, Senator Aécio Neves, president of the PSDB party, struck a pose of cotton candy. He believes that Aloysio Nunes' words express the "most appropriate path." He would like to maintain the secret ballot, especially in the analysis of presidential vetoes. But he considers that, if there is no alternative, the position of Congressman Carlos Sampaio is better than nothing.
"We will approve the end of secret voting even without excluding vetoes. If the choice is between staying as we are and approving the end of secret voting for everything, I prefer to approve the end of secret voting for everything..."