Organized Crime CPI: government defeats opposition and elects PT member to the presidency

This Tuesday, the Senate installed the Organized Crime CPI, created to investigate the activities of factions and militias across the country. The commission will be chaired by senator Fabiano Contarato (PT-ES) — a choice considered a victory for the government base — and will have as rapporteur Alessandro Vieira (MDB-SE), author of the request that originated the collegiate. There were 6 votes for the PT member against 5 votes for senator Hamilton Mourão (Republicanos-RS) who was chosen as vice-president, by acclamation.

To avoid a new defeat, as occurred during the installation of the INSS CPI, in August, when senator Carlos Viana (Podemos-MG) was elected president in the absence of the base, the government leaders organized exchanges between the members of the collegiate between yesterday and today. With this, they managed, for example, to replace Senator Nelsinho Trad (PSD-MG) with Senator Angelo Coronel (PSD-BA), more loyal to the Executive.

The opposition, which until then supported Flávio Bolsonaro’s (PL-RJ) candidacy for the presidency, arrived this Wednesday, with an attempt to nominate Senator Hamilton Mourão (Republicanos-RS). For them, Mourão would have less resistance than Flávio among the government supporters and could have a chance.

The collegiate’s rapporteur should be with senator Alessandro Vieira (MDB-SE), author of the CPI request and a centrist parliamentarian. Vieira asked that the political dispute be left aside for the functioning and choice of the collegiate command.

— No one questions the legitimacy or seriousness of Senator Fabiano Contarato to be president. So, what is the reason for having a vote dispute, which only delays the work and communicates to the population, in a wrong way, that there is no trust? My appeal to Your Excellency [Mourão] is that, rationally, he places himself as vice president. It will be a huge gain for the commission. It is very important to have you, with your experience as a general, former vice president of the Republic and legitimately elected senator, also showing this vision — because, at some point, we will reach the discussion of the role of the Armed Forces, which is fundamental — said Contarato.

Senator Eduardo Girão (Novo-CE) said that the presidency of the collegiate should remain with the opposition so that there would be “balance” in the work. The government leader, Jaques Wagner (PT-BA), refuted the parliamentarian’s comments and defended Contarato’s presidency.

—We in the opposition have no comfort in voting for someone from the PT to command this CPI, especially because no one from the government signed this CPI. That’s why the suggestion of putting Senator General Morão in, I think everyone would be comfortable voting, but since an agreement was not possible, let’s go to the vote. Our vote will be for Senator Mourão — said Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ)

Authorized by Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP), the commission will operate for 180 days, extendable for the same period. In addition to Flávio Bolsonaro, the group includes names such as Sergio Moro (União-PR), Magno Malta (PL-ES), Marcos do Val (Podemos-ES) and Eduardo Girão (Novo-CE), all critical of the Planalto.

In Planalto, the assessment is that the CPI could produce greater wear and tear than the INSS commission, installed in September and dominated by independents. Lula’s advisors fear that the security agenda will be captured by the right, especially after the operation that left 121 dead in the Alemão and Penha complexes, in Rio.

The collegiate will investigate the structuring, expansion and functioning of crime, focusing on the actions of militias and factions. The expectation is that the sessions will become a stage for clashes between government supporters and the opposition. The CPI was born amid the repercussions of the police operation that left 121 people dead in the Alemão and Penha complexes, in Rio de Janeiro, and promises to place public security policy at the center of the national debate.

Base

1. Otto Alencar (PSD-BA)
2. Angelo Coronel (PSD-BA)
3. Jorge Kajuru (PSB-GO)
4. Rogério Carvalho (PT-SE)
5. Fabiano Contarato (PT-ES)

Center

1. Alessandro Vieira (MDB-SE)

Opposition

1. Marcio Bittar (PL-AC)
2. Marcos do Val (PODEMOS-ES)
3. Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ)
4. Magno Malta (PL-ES)
5. Hamilton Mourão (Republicanos-RS)