Elected president of the Senate, Eunício advocates for dialogue and 'possible consensus'.

Maria Carolina Marcello - From Reuters

Senator Eunício Oliveira (PMDB-CE) was elected president of the Senate this Wednesday, confirming his overwhelming favoritism, and promised dialogue and the pursuit of "possible consensus," at a time when Michel Temer needs the Legislature for the approval of important reforms in Congress, especially the pension reform.

"Throughout so many battles in the business and political worlds, I am an experienced public figure and a man from the backlands forged in facing challenges," said Eunício in his first speech as president of the Senate. "I always seek conciliation, understanding, and the best possible consensus."

Speaking to journalists, Eunício advocated for an "intense debate" on the proposed changes presented by the government.

"The pension reform, like other reforms, will be the subject of intense debate in this House," he said. "There is a need for debate."

Still in his speech, he said that it is up to the Senate "to collaborate in the effort to unite the country around a common development project and to restore society's confidence in the Brazilian Parliament and the Brazilian State."

Besides Eunício—who ran for the party with the largest representation, which had the prerogative to nominate a candidate for the presidency—Senator José Medeiros (PSD-MT) also ran for the position, in an independent candidacy, without the support of his party. Eunício received 61 votes, compared to 10 votes for Medeiros. There were 10 blank votes.

Upon being elected president of the Senate, Eunício also became president of the National Congress.

DEFINITION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Senate has also defined the names for the other positions on the Board. Based on the proportionality criterion, the PSDB, the second largest party in the House, secured the first vice-presidency, with Senator Cássio Cunha Lima (PB) nominated for the position.

For the second vice-presidency, a position that generated dispute and even delayed the start of the election session, the PMDB nominated Senator João Alberto Souza (MA).

Third on the list, the PT nominated Senator José Pimentel (CE) for the first secretary position. The PT's participation in the Board also generated disagreements, to the point that members of the party – Senators Lindbergh Farias (RJ), Fátima Bezerra (RN), and Gleisi Hoffmann (PR) – released a statement criticizing the decision to allow the party members to vote freely, with an eye on participation in the Board.

"Unfortunately, the PT caucus in the Senate chose a different path. Overestimating the institutional struggle and insensitive to the appeal of the activists, the majority of the caucus preferred not to take a clear position, authorizing PT senators to vote as they see fit. It is truly regrettable. A political mistake that will exact its price," the statement says.

With an eye on the PT's division, the DEM even prepared to nominate Davi Alcolumbre (DEM-AP) for the first secretary position.

OVERCOMING THE CRISIS

In their speeches before the vote, both Eunício and Medeiros signaled support for issues related to the federal pact and defended the role of the Senate in overcoming the crisis.

Speaking first, Medeiros stated that the country is going through a period of "economic restoration" and that it is the Senate's role to help "overcome successive political turbulences" and restore "balance in relations between the Union, States and municipalities."

Eunício, in turn, stated that the "path" that led him to the candidacy is that of "tradition," backed by the internal regulations and the legal framework, according to which the largest party bloc nominates the president.

"Nothing is more democratic than observing the customs and political traditions of a people and their institutions," said the 64-year-old member of the PMDB party.

In expressing support for the reforms undertaken by the Temer government, such as pension reform and the revision of labor legislation, Eunício defended the role of Congress in "getting Brazil back on track." He also stated that the Senate has a role to play in helping with "lasting solutions" to the federal issue.

A senator since 2011, Eunício served three terms as a federal deputy before that. During the administration of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, he was Minister of Communications.

In 2014, he ran for governor of Ceará in coalition with the PSDB and was ultimately defeated by the PT candidate Camilo Santana. A former ally of Dilma Rousseff (PT), he voted in favor of the impeachment of the then-president last year.