The final showdown between former President Jair Bolsonaro and President Lula took place last October, when the newly inaugurated leader defeated the former army captain in a close runoff election marked by controversy and episodes of political violence.
But the dispute is far from over. Especially considering the proxy war that has emerged from their respective political influence, not only among millions of voters, but also at the heart of Brazilian politics.
On February 1, Brazil turned its eyes to another election, as members of Congress from both the Senate and House voted on who they wanted to serve as Senate president and House speaker for the next two years. And, not surprisingly, the clashes were defined by the Lula-Bolsonaro rivalry.
The re-election of incumbent House Speaker Arthur Lira was a foregone conclusion, especially given the support he enjoys in the lower house of Congress. Indeed, Mr. Lira received a record number of votes on Wednesday: 464 out of a possible 509.
His supporters ranged from members of Lula’s center-left Workers’ Party to Mr. Bolsonaro’s far-right Liberal Party. Thanks to Mr. Lira’s affiliation with the ideologically fluid rentier parties known as the “Big Center,” there is a decent chance that he will be willing to work with Lula.
The Senate leadership election, however, was little more than a Lula-Bolsonaro showdown. The former president had hoped that Rogério Marinho, his former regional development minister, would upset the odds and win, putting a pro-Bolsonaro politician in charge of the Senate.
But once again, things went badly for the former far-right leader, and the Lula-backed incumbent Rodrigo Pacheco won re-election. Having Mr. Marinho in charge would have been disastrous for the Lula government, but Mr. Pacheco is likely to be willing to cooperate.
- Go deeper: The calcification of Brazilian politics
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