Today, the government tries to kill a potentially explosive Covid hearings committee. The Supreme Court neuters part of Bolsonaro’s pro-gun decree. And the rocky transition at Petrobras’ helm.
Crossfire in Three Powers Square
In today’s floor session, Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco is expected to present the much-awaited request to open a hearings committee on the government’s pandemic response. In the president’s camp, the fear is that the committee may become a sort of umbrella to dig up all kinds of dirt on the administration — previous high-profile hearings have done just that.
Strategy. Allies of President Bolsonaro will move to delay procedures as much as possible. Meanwhile, they seek to include state and municipal administrations in the probe, as a way to dilute the focus of the committee’s works.
- There are doubts around whether Congress is even allowed to investigate governors and mayors, or if that is the exclusive jurisdiction of local lawmakers. Mr. Pacheco asked legal advisors to weigh in on the issue. Some in Congress argue that since these administrations used federal money in their pandemic responses, they are fair game, but the matter could end up in the Supreme Court.
- Widening the scope of the probe...