LuanaLourenço             Reporter Agência Brasil

[contains a background note by the translator]

Brasilia – The Palácio do Planalto (Brazil’s White House) has confirmed that its new leaders in Congress will be Eduardo Braga (PMDB-AM) in the Senate, and Arlindo Chinaglia (PT-SP) in the Chamber of Deputies. They substitute Romero Jucá (PMDB-RR) and Cândido Vaccarezza (PT-SP), respectively.

[Background note: Dilma Rousseff’s government base in the Congress consists of 18 political parties (out of 27). Although 70% of the members of Congress are supposed to be government allies, this enormous coalition is famously voracious in its party, political and personal needs. Its appetite for jobs and money forces the president to negotiate each and every vote separately and the results depend on whether or not the base is satisfied at that particular moment. The constant horse-trading with its own base in Congress by the executive branch has far-reaching consequences throughout the government. For example, the president of Brazil can make over 23,000 political appointments (“comissionados”). These are the aides and assistants who should help administer the government with their special skills and expertise, but most of them have their jobs based exclusively on political connections. At the same time, the president manages the government with an unwieldy cabinet that consists of over 35 ministries and most of them are also where they are because of political connections and/or necessities]

Today’s change of leadership in Congress came about after a rebellion in the vast ranks of Dilma Rousseff’s government base that resulted in a vote in the Senate that denied approval to a nomination she made. Dilma wanted a competent aide to return to a position where he had much needed experience. The Senate vote was 36 to 31 against her.

As leaders of the government (“lideres do governo”), senator Braga and deputy Chinaglia are responsible for coordinating the government’s base in Congress and negotiating the passage of legislation that is in the government’s interest.

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English – content modified

Link - Planalto confirma Arlindo Chinaglia e Eduardo Braga como novos líderes do governo no Congresso