Senate approves end to secret voting.
A proposed constitutional amendment (PEC) aimed at ending secret voting in Congress, the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate, and extending to the Legislative Assemblies of the States, the Federal District, and municipal councils, was approved in its first reading. Senator Paulo Paim (PT-RS) defended unrestricted open voting, while Humberto Costa (PT-PE) argued in favor of partially maintaining secret voting. The opposition was also divided.
Reuters - The Senate approved on Wednesday night, in the first round, a proposed amendment to the Constitution (PEC) that aims to end secret voting in Congress, in the Chamber of Deputies, in the Senate, and extends to the Legislative Assemblies of the States, the Federal District, and municipal chambers.
The Open Vote Amendment received 54 votes in favor, 10 against, and one abstention, and still needs to go through a second round of voting, when amendments to the main text can be considered, since they were withdrawn this Wednesday due to complaints from some senators.
In the Chamber of Deputies, the PEC (Proposed Constitutional Amendment) was unanimously approved with 452 votes in September, after having been considered in the first round seven years earlier.
No Senado, a discussão sobre o voto aberto causou polêmica no plenário e chegou a colocar senadores do mesmo partido em lados opostos, segundo a Agência Senado.
O senador Paulo Paim (PT-RS) defendeu o voto aberto irrestrito, enquanto Humberto Costa (PT-PE) se manifestou a favor da manutenção parcial das votações secretas.
The opposition was also divided. While Senator Aloysio Nunes Ferreira (PSDB-SP), the party leader, said that it is necessary to ensure balance between institutions with secret ballots in some situations, fellow PSDB member Mário Couto (PSDB-PA) stated that open voting is a demand of Brazilians and that there is no excuse for hiding one's vote in Parliament.
In June, popular demonstrations brought more than a million people to the streets of various cities across the country to demand, among other things, improvements in transportation, public services, and a fight against corruption.