Lower house gatekeeper doing Bolsonaro’s bidding in Congress

Last week, former House Speaker Rodrigo Maia declared that the House’s Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) — the chamber’s most important — had become a “laboratory for conspiracy theories” under its new chair, pro-Bolsonaro Congresswoman Bia Kicis. Mr. Maia added that the committee has been “hijacked by personal interests and an obscurantist agenda,” leaving aside proposals of national importance.

Ms. Kicis’ very appointment as the head of the CCJ raised eyebrows. She is currently under investigation by the Supreme Court for her involvement in organizing anti-democratic protests early last year, which involved endorsements of a military coup.

While being under investigation is hardly an effective roadblock to politicians in Brazil, Ms. Kicis’ appointment to lead the House’s most important committee drew the opposition’s ire. The panel is tasked with assessing the constitutionality of legislation, and all ordinary bills and constitutional amendments proposals must be analyzed by the CCJ on their path to approval.

Indeed, in her short time as CCJ chair, this is not the first time Ms. Kicis’ actions have been put under the microscope. In...