Division within the evangelical caucus leads to unprecedented leadership election this Tuesday.
The dispute reflects the impasse over rapprochement with the Lula government; Otoni de Paula and Gilberto Nascimento are the polarizing contenders.
247 - An internal dispute over the relationship with the federal government led the Evangelical Parliamentary Front of the National Congress to call, for the first time, an election to choose its leader. The vote, scheduled for this Tuesday (25), breaks with the tradition of consensual definition of the group's presidency and exposes the split between the wings aligned with Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and those that defend a posture of greater dialogue with the Planalto, reports the newspaper The Globe.
The main contenders in the election are congressmen Otoni de Paula (MDB-RJ) and Gilberto Nascimento (PSD-SP), both linked to the Assembly of God of Madureira, but with distinct political trajectories. While Otoni has been getting closer to the Lula government, Nascimento has the support of influential Bolsonaro supporters. The third candidate, Greyce Elias (Avante-MG), linked to the Sara Nossa Terra church, presents herself as an alternative to the polarization, although behind the scenes there is speculation that she may withdraw her candidacy to support Nascimento, something the congresswoman denies.
Political polarization and the fight for parliamentary seats. The election reflects a larger clash that transcends the choice of the next evangelical leader and is part of the context of the political polarization that dominates Congress. Otoni de Paula, who in the past was one of Bolsonaro's most fervent defenders, has adopted a more pragmatic stance and made overtures to the Lula government. In October 2024, he participated in the ceremony to sanction the National Day of Gospel Music at the Palácio do Planalto, where he praised the president. Furthermore, he supported the reelection of Eduardo Paes (PSD) for mayor of Rio, contradicting Bolsonaro supporters.
Otoni's support within the caucus largely comes from the wing that wants to maintain dialogue with the government to secure political space and access to resources. He also has an ally in the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT) in Rio de Janeiro, Superintendent José de Moraes Correia Neto, who is linked to Congressman Silas Câmara (Republicanos-AM).
On the other hand, Gilberto Nascimento presents himself as a conciliatory figure, but has the declared support of influential figures in Bolsonaro's movement, such as Pastor Silas Malafaia and Congressman Sóstenes Cavalcante (PL-RJ). Both see in Otoni a risk of excessive closeness to Lula and fear that the Evangelical Parliamentary Front will lose its identity.
Malafaia, who avoids getting directly involved in congressional disputes, doesn't hide his dissatisfaction with Otoni, whom he calls a "turncoat." "He doesn't respect an older congressman who has never run for office before. It's clear there's a government game behind it, and the young man wants to take advantage of it. He should give up and wait for his turn," Malafaia stated.
Nascimento, for his part, avoids labeling himself as a Bolsonaro supporter or a government supporter.
"Neither a Bolsonaro supporter nor a Lula supporter, I am a man of dialogue, I believe balance is necessary. The Front has a spiritual side and defined principles. Our parties range from PSOL to PL, so dialogue and pacification are necessary," declared the congressman.
History of deadlock and expectations for the vote - The Evangelical Parliamentary Front usually chooses its leaders by consensus, but in 2023, the lack of an agreement made it impossible to define a president, leading to the creation of a shared leadership between Eli Borges (PL-TO) and Silas Câmara. This temporary solution, however, did not prevent new tensions, culminating in the decision to hold a formal election.
The vote will be secret, using electronic voting machines, and it is expected that around 70 parliamentarians will attend to choose the new president of the caucus. The Front has 245 signatories, but only 117 are considered effectively engaged because they belong to a church, according to the Inter-Union Department of Parliamentary Advisory (Diap).
If Otoni de Paula wins, there is a risk of a mass exodus of Bolsonaro-supporting deputies from the caucus, under the justification that he could open a channel of dialogue with Lula. If Nascimento is elected, the conservative wing of the Evangelical Parliamentary Front will consolidate its position of confrontation with the government.
