Apparently, Lula and his advisers haven’t learned anything from the current crisis. Following Severino’s resignation, the administration is in full throttle trying to regain the Chamber’s control. How? Offering up to half a million reais in parliamentary amendments, in hopes of turning precious votes in favor of their candidate, ex-Political Articulation minister Rep. Aldo Rebelo (PC do B - SP).
For starters, offering political favors (in short, money) in exchange for votes has proved remarkably unsuccesful before. But to do so amidst the whole “mensalão” scandal is just another in a neverending series of political mess-ups from this administration’s top officials.
Also, it’s hard to think of a less fitting man for the job than Mr. Rebelo. Anyone will remember that he was considered the main culprit for the administration’s defeat when Severino was elected. PT’s representatives asked for his head at least once a week, until the “mensalão” scandal at last forced Lula to take some action.
And yet, the Workers’ Party seems to be back at its old habits of manhandling their own congressmen into confirming whoever they see fit for the job. According to this Folha de S. Paulo piece, some petistas are not happy with the way the Planalto played their cards in this election.
On thursday night, PT’s representatives had agreed on Arlindo Chinaglia as their candidate for the Chamber’s presidency. With his candidacy, three other congressmen had withdrawn from the race. Soon thereafter, word came out that Mr. Chinaglia had worked an agreement with Planalto’s officials and withdrawn his candidacy for Mr. Rebelo. That got some petistas fuming.
“There was a consensus for Arlindo and at about 23:00, [thursday night], I got word about the agreement. It’s not possible for the Workers’ Party to make top-down decisions anymore. That’s why I don’t have an opinion on who I’ll vote for yet”, the Chamber’s Constitution and Justice Comission (CCJ) president, Rep. Antônio Carlos Biscaia (PT - RJ) told the newspaper.
The party’s allies have decided they wouldn’t take part in the game, and so will run their own candidates. Rep. Francisco Dornelles (PP - RJ), Rep. João Caldas (PL - AL) and Rep. Luiz Antônio Fleury Filho (PTB - SP) said they will run and won’t spare the administration’s candidate. According to the Folha’s piece, Rep. Michel Temer (PMDB - SP), whose support petistas have sought the whole week, is considering stepping out of the race in favor of the opposition’s consensus candidate, Rep. José Thomaz Nonô (PFL - AL).
The Workers’ Party leader, Rep. Henrique Fontana (RS), when questioned about his fellow congressmen’s frustration, said they should trust him. “When we decided for Chinaglia, it was already agreed that he could step down for a consensus candidate. Besides, I spoke with congressmen before making this decision”, he said.
It looks like Mr. Rebelo may no longer be a part of the administration, but his days as responsible for their political defeats are not over. And I’m beggining to wonder whether even losing the next presidential elections would be enought for Lula and his acolytes to wake up and smell the coffee.
UPDATE: Kennedy Alencar, Folha de S. Paulo columnist and reporter, makes the same points in his latest op-ed.
