After more than a month without contact, the President of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP), broke the ice and called the leader of the government in the Senate, Jaques Wagner (PT-BA), on December 24 to wish him a Merry Christmas.
Alcolumbre and Wagner had not spoken since November 20, when Lula (PT) announced that he had chosen Jorge Messias, minister of the AGU (Attorney General of the Union), for the STF (Federal Supreme Court) — and not Senator Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), ally of the President of the Senate.
The call was quick and limited to Christmas greetings. Tricky issues, such as the date of the AGU minister’s hearing in the Senate, which has not yet been set, were left aside.
In addition to being frustrated by the choice of Messias over Pacheco, Alcolumbre complained that he was not informed before the announcement.
In recent weeks, those close to the President of the Senate have expressed a feeling of total indignation. The senator was particularly offended by rumors that he had sought government posts in exchange for the approval of the Union Attorney General.
On November 30, Alcolumbre even published a harsh note against “certain sectors of the executive”, accusing the government of wanting to take away powers from the Senate – the Palácio do Planalto having not yet sent the necessary documents for Messias’ hearing.
Without direct contact, Alcolumbre and the government leader communicated through other senators, such as the rapporteur for the nomination of Messias, Weverton Rocha (PDT-MA), and the leader of the MDB, Eduardo Braga (AM).
Alcolumbre and Lula also spoke again after weeks apart. The two spoke on the phone after the parliamentary recess began and, a few days later, met in person in Brasilia, according to reports.
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