(-MG), 48, ends his four-year term as president of the city in a transition that would be the envy of any politician from the center. If, in 2021, he reached the position as a candidate for (PL), in 2024, he leaves the position as Lula’s (PT).
Considered by friends as diplomatic and critics as weak, Pacheco resorted to the miners’ reputation for discretion to overcome the rearrangement of forces imposed by the change of government and share space with one of the presidents, (PP-AL).
In the battle with the so-called “Casa Baixa” —or, as he prefers to say, with the “House next door”—, Pacheco saw Lira seize powers from the Senate when he changed the rules so that the deputies would have the final say on the projects.
Once, . “This is Arthur Lira’s dog”, he said when he was interrupted by barking coming from Lira’s neighboring house. “It’s the dog owned by Arthur Lira. The rabbit moved here. It couldn’t handle the environment, it’s calmer here”, he amended the joke.
The struggle that kept the two presidents apart for months ended up being sidelined in favor of parliamentary amendments. Used as a political bargaining chip, rapporteur amendments were instituted in Congress in previous administrations, but with Pacheco and Lira.
The two were together when the decision was made for theirs and when the minister demanded more transparency — especially in the distribution of the boosted committee amendments.
Senators close to Pacheco make no secret of their hope that (-AP), his predecessor and possible successor, will reverse the game of powers with the Chamber in 2025. Despite this, they claim that the Minas Gerais native will be remembered for his work as a whole.
“Rodrigo Pacheco, due to life’s contingency, ended up living very critical moments in the country’s history”, says the future leader of the PT, Rogério Carvalho (SE), highlighting first the Covid-19 pandemic and, then, the “coup attempts” —from the one on the Esplanada during the Bolsonaro administration to the attack by .
“He has an extremely turbulent period on his CV, in which he conducted himself with great competence, capacity for articulation, mediation. Some wanted him to be more aggressive, but he, in his own way, managed to conduct himself in a way that was quite appropriate for the moment he We lived with a lot of tension.”
Pacheco was elected president for the first time in an unlikely political move made by the then president, Alcolumbre (as new as he was), at a time when Brazil was experiencing the drastic consequences of the pandemic.
Pacheco resisted as much as he could in opening a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry to investigate the actions of the Bolsonaro government and said he preferred proactive measures, such as the one against Covid, of which he is proud to be the author.
“The CPI could, indeed, have a role in anticipating the political-electoral discussion of 2022, as a political platform, which is absolutely inappropriate for this moment”, he declared.
The outcome, reluctantly, was the first of many episodes involving the two Powers that would mark his presidency. After the STF’s determination, Pacheco installed the CPI that would become one of Bolsonaro’s, even with the final report shelved.
The commission shook the relationship with Bolsonarism and served as a harbinger for the clashes that would come later. Pacheco had already indicated that he would not open impeachment against ministers of the court, but after Bolsonaro himself asked for the impeachment of .
The senator also toughened his speech in defense of the polls amid the former president’s escalation. After the January 8th attack — which he did —, he made a statement by saying that he would eventually do so while he was in office.
“Many people may criticize Rodrigo, but he went through the worst moments of the Republic in the post-redemocratization period. He has our respect,” said PSD leader, Omar Aziz (AM), when announcing that the party would support Alcolumbre.
The internal split became even more evident in the , when he defeated the opposition leader, (PL-RN) — in a dispute seen as a reflection of the polarization between Lula and Bolsonaro.
PL leader, Carlos Portinho (RJ), does not hide the group’s hurt. He also criticizes Pacheco’s stance towards the STF, highlighting the situation of his colleague Marcos do Val (Podemos-ES), whose social networks were blocked by order of Moraes.
“This deterioration in relations harmed not only his mandate, but created a climate of disharmony between the current and opposition senators and left a vacuum. And I credit this to the interference of the Judiciary in the Legislative Branch and the worsening of relations. “
Even ruling out the possibility of impeachment, Pacheco sponsored attacks against the court by presenting, himself, the proposed amendment to the Constitution that .
Pacheco also bought the fight from the public service elite and tried, unsuccessfully, to reestablish the five-year period, a benefit that for judges and prosecutors every five years.
The senator dodges rumors about the possibility of becoming a minister, promising to spend the next two years in office 24 of the Senate (in an implicit manifestation of homophobia) and even leaving politics after that.
Allies maintain their bet on his name for the government of Minas Gerais. A friend who prefers not to be identified says that, since entering politics, the senator has never been able to complain about bad luck — ignoring that of the Republic, in 2022, as a third way.
After voting on the spending package, Pacheco celebrated the tax reform —which he considers one of his main legacies— and . “I tried to be as democratic as possible, respectful with the opposition and the situation, with all colleagues”, he declared.
PACHECO’S PATH IN POLITICS
Practice in law
Criminal lawyer and federal advisor to the OAB (Brazilian Bar Association), Pacheco even criticized the investigative power of the Public Ministry.
Election to the Chamber of Deputies
He was elected federal deputy by the PMDB in his first contest, with 92 thousand votes. Born in Porto Velho (RO), the politician grew up in Minas Gerais and has always run as a candidate for the state.
Dispute for Belo Horizonte City Hall
At the time a federal deputy, Pacheco ran for mayor of the capital of Minas Gerais in 2016 for the PMDB, but ended up in third place, with 10% of the valid votes. In the second round, he supported the candidate, João Leite (PSDB).
Presidency of the CCJ of the Chamber
In the Chamber, Pacheco was unanimously elected president of the most important committee, Constitution and Justice, after being nominated by the PMDB, the party with the largest number of federal deputies.
At the time, he was Public Security in the Michel Temer government in place of Alexandre de Moraes. Pacheco was president of the CCJ when.
Election to the Senate
In 2018, he joined the DEM (currently União Brasil) and ran for one of the two Senate seats for Minas Gerais. He was elected first, with 20.54% of the votes, and finished fourth.
Election for the presidency of the Senate
It was, defeating Simone Tebet (MDB), after the then president, Davi Alcolumbre (DEM-AP), was prevented by the STF from running for a second term. On that occasion, he got the support of Jair Bolsonaro and the PT bench.
Membership of the PSD
With an eye on the Presidency of the Republic, Pacheco in 2021. The affiliation ceremony took place at Memorial JK, in Brasília, in a clear attempt to associate with the. On the occasion, Pacheco criticized political polarization and the country’s situation.
Pre-candidacy for President in 2022
Pacheco tried to run for President of the Republic in 2022, against Lula and Bolsonaro, as a third way, but. Without taking off in the polls, he left the race saying he never said he would run for office.
Re-election to the presidency of the Senate
In 2023, he was re-elected for another two years in office by 49 votes to 32. The dispute was treated as a reflection of the struggle between Lula and Bolsonaro.
Departure from the presidency of the Senate
Pacheco leaves the presidency of the Senate in line for a ministry in the Lula government and for the government of Minas Gerais in 2026 as a PT candidate. “Pacheco at the beginning of the government was my enemy. Today he is my friend”, said the President of the Republic last month.
