Centrão sees Bolsonaro supporters "disrupting" the Chamber of Deputies over amnesty. PT leader speaks of a "Kamikaze tactic".
Members of Parliament criticize the attempt to "force down their throats" a proposal that lacks majority support.
247 - The bill that provides amnesty for those involved in the coup attempts of January 8, 2023, is facing strong resistance in the Chamber of Deputies, according to reporting by the newspaper. The GlobeThe PL party, Jair Bolsonaro's party, failed to secure the support of party leaders for the urgent request for the proposal and is now trying to collect 257 signatures individually, in an offensive that has strained relations with the Centrão (center-right bloc).
In an attempt to force a vote on the matter of urgency, the PL party resorted to an "obstruction kit," a mechanism used by opposition parliamentarians to block votes and prevent sessions from being convened. This tactic, however, caused discomfort among leaders of centrist parties, who accuse Bolsonaro supporters of "disrupting" the House. "This is a kamikaze tactic. They are isolating themselves and clashing with centrist parties," criticized Congressman Lindbergh Farias (PT-RJ), leader of the PT caucus.
Resistance from leaders and pressure on Hugo Motta - As of Thursday (3), there was no adherence from party leaders to the request. The president of the Chamber, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), is the one who holds the prerogative to schedule the request for urgency, even if the necessary signatures are obtained. Therefore, some leaders believe that it is not worth exposing themselves to public wear and tear by signing a request that may not even be voted on.
The leader of the PL party in the Chamber of Deputies, Congressman Sóstenes Cavalcante (RJ), stated that he had already obtained 163 signatures, but admitted that the leaders did not sign because they had not been "authorized" by Hugo Motta. "President Motta is and will continue to be an ally of the PL on all issues, including amnesty. But we know that the president's position is subject to pressure," he declared. According to him, Motta had asked the leaders to await further instructions.
Despite this, leaders interviewed for this report emphasized that they do not need presidential authorization to support the requests and that the decision not to sign reflects a political interpretation of the situation.
Stalemates and setbacks - Earlier in the week, the PL party went so far as to disrupt the functioning of important committees, such as the Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ), by refusing to register their presence. The obstruction was considered an abuse by members of the committee. The committee's president, Paulo Azi (União-BA), had to intensify his efforts to ensure the subsequent sessions would take place.
The attempt to halt the proceedings, however, was unsuccessful. The Chamber approved a provisional measure for extraordinary government credit and, in another vote, gave its approval to a bill responding to the tariff hikes imposed by the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
On Thursday, following appeals from Hugo Motta, Sóstenes himself authorized the functioning of the Health, Agriculture, and Tourism committees, chaired by PL deputies. These committees needed to vote on the minutes releasing funds from parliamentary amendments for 2024, which had been blocked by a decision of Supreme Federal Court Justice Flávio Dino.
"Our obstruction is responsible, until Motta feels comfortable enough to decide whether to authorize the leaders to sign [the urgency request]," stated the leader of the PL party.
Climate of isolation and weariness - For leaders of the Centrão bloc, the PL's insistence on scheduling the amnesty proposal without building a broader consensus could compromise future negotiations. The belligerent style of the party's most radical group, which includes Sóstenes, is reportedly damaging its own image among other parliamentary groups.
Privately, members of parliament criticize the attempt to "force down people's throats" a proposal that lacks majority support. The general perception is that the PL's strategy contributes to the party's isolation and the weakening of its influence in negotiations in the Chamber of Deputies.
