Politics

Bolsonarism thrives in Congress

Sunday's legislative elections were a victory for Bolsonarism. Key government figures won a seat in Congress, and the president’s party got the biggest bench in both houses

bolsonaro congress 2022 election
Façade of Brazil’s Congress building with green and yellow lightning. Photo: Luis Macedo / C

Even if President Jair Bolsonaro is defeated by former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the presidential runoff on October 30, Bolsonarism will survive in Congress. Former cabinet ministers from the Bolsonaro administration will enter both the House and Senate, and the president’s own Liberal Party was by far the biggest winner of the election that took place on Sunday.

Five former cabinet ministers were elected senators: Damares Alves, Marcos Pontes, Sergio Moro, Tereza Cristina, and Rogério Marinho. Mr. Moro, who fell out with President Bolsonaro after resigning as justice minister in April 2020, ran on a platform of “having a common enemy” and appealing to the support of Mr. Bolsonaro’s voters.

Vice President Hamilton Mourão was also elected senator in Rio Grande do Sul. And former Fishing Secretary Jorge Seif, a close ally of President Bolsonaro who was often seen with him at barbecues and other social occasions, was elected senator in the neighboring state of Santa Catarina.

Mr. Seif, who like his former boss is an opponent of environmental regulations, went viral in Brazil in late 2019 for claiming that “fishes are smart” and can dodge oil pollution.

Meanwhile, in the House, the...

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