Calls for a semi-presidential system in Brazil: profound change, or diversion tactics?

While there are over 100 requests pending in Congress to impeach Brazil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro — with over 50 percent of the population in favor of opening ousting proceedings against the embattled leader — all efforts to remove the president come up against one, seemingly immovable object.

The only person in Brasília with the power to launch impeachment proceedings against a sitting president is the House Speaker. And incumbent Arthur Lira, it seems, is not for turning.

Elected to his post with the backing of Mr. Bolsonaro back in February, Mr. Lira has become the government’s most important ally, serving as a floodbank to hold off any regimental chance of impeaching the current head of state.

But pressure is building on the speaker, as public clamor for impeachment continues to grow. His apparent temporary solution has been to resuscitate an old argument about Brazil’s entire system of governance, asking whether the country would be better off as a semi-presidential democracy, with a president and prime minister coexisting in a dual executive branch. While not necessarily solving the immediate Bolsonaro Problem, the strategy could take some of the pressure off Mr. Lira, as his proposal would simplify and facilitate impeachment proceedings for future governments.

In practical terms, Mr. Lira has redeemed an old constitutional amendment proposal and put it to the chief whips of parties in Congress on Tuesday. Since then, it has been among the most talked-about topics in Brasília.

What is a semi-presidential system?

The proposal currently in play would equate Brazil’s governance model to that of France or Portugal, where elected presidents appoint a prime minister to carry out the...