Senator David Alcolumbre (Brazil-AP Union) was elected this Saturday (1st) Senate President for the next two years, with 73 of the 81 votes. The preparatory meeting began shortly after 10am and, during the speeches of the candidates, Senator Marcos do Val (Somos) and Senator Soraya Thronicke (Somos-MS) removed their candidates. The position, along with alcohumbre, senators Marcos Pontes (PL-SP) and Eduardo Girão (Novo-CE) competed.
In his speech, David Alcolumbre declared a “uncompromising defender” of dialogue, collective construction and shared solutions. “You know me, you know of my true commitment to this institution and to Brazil. Above all, with the population who trusts each of us to represent their dreams and their hopes, ”he said. “For me, to govern is to listen and lead is to serve. This is what our country needs now. A leadership that unites and not that divides ”.
Marcos Pontes, in turn, assessed that the country “calls for change.” “The people are distressed. Our voters ask us, ‘Do something,’ ”he said. “We are facing a crucial moment. We need to choose between stagnation and change, between comfort and struggle. We need to restore the strength and credibility of this house. We need to ensure that population voices are heard and that democratic values are always respected. ”
Already Eduardo Girão proposed to restore the image of the Senate which, according to him, is “terrible”. “Our big problem was not having faced the rebalancing between the powers, which was lost. Censorship returned to Brazil after redemocratization, and the Senate was watching the censorship. The constitution is torn every day, not here, on our side. And this Senate was cowardly. We are all responsible for the collapse of this house. ”
Understand
The president of the Senate is also the head of the Legislature and, therefore, he presides over the National Congress. Among the duties of the position are the president of the Republic and extraordinarily summon the National Congress in case of decree of state of national defense or federal intervention. It is also the one who receives the requests for impeachment from Ministers of the Federal Supreme Court (STF).
It is also up to the Senate President to define the agenda of the House and Congress sessions as a whole. The election, secret and held in paper banknotes, requires the absolute majority of the vows of the senators (minimum of 41). If no candidate reaches the number, it is held a second round with the two most voted. Still, at least 41 votes are required to elect the president of the house.
*With information from the Senate Agency
