With the votes scheduled for today, the Legislative Assembly of Rio (Alerj) decides the political fate and whether or not to maintain the prison of the state deputy Rodrigo Bacellar (União), president of the Chamber, who has been detained since last Wednesday in a cell of four square meters at the Superintendence of the Federal Police of Rio. The order from the Supreme Federal Court (STF) for the arrest was issued after a PF investigation highlighted suspicions that the parliamentarian leaked information about the operation that, in September this year, arrested former state deputy Thiego Raimundo dos Santos Silva, known as TH Jóias, accused of being a political wing of the Comando Vermelho (CV).
- “Very serious” facts: PF reported signs of participation of Alerj president in criminal organization, says Moraes
- After changing his phone number the day before the operation that arrested him, TH Joias contacted Rodrigo Bacellar and called the president of Alerj ’01’
In a statement to the PF, published yesterday in Fantástico, Bacellar admitted to having spoken with TH Jóias on the eve of the operation. According to what he reported, the deputy contacted him to ask if he was aware of any police action directed against him.
“I said: I don’t know anything. For three days, rumors have been circulating in the House that there will be a problem this week for a deputy,” Bacellar explained. Then the MP added: “Then he (TH Jóias) said: ‘No, cool. I don’t know what I’m doing, I don’t know if I’m going to leave.’ !” Bacellar told PF.
Next, the delegate asked about the video sent by TH Jóias showing a freezer full of meat and mentioning that there was no way to “take” it. The agent asked why the president of Alerj did not inform the authorities that an MP, who would be the target of the operation, was removing items from his residence. Bacellar replied: “I’m not here to betray a colleague. I’m not here to protect a colleague who doesn’t do anything wrong. I admit that I was even afraid. I thought it was an act of impertinence on his part, calling me from a telephone number that I didn’t have (…) I answered, but then I didn’t contact him again. And I only told him that. I said: You are crazy?”
Today in Alerj, Bacellar’s fate begins to be determined during a closed-door meeting in the morning of the seven members of the Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ). They will analyze the STF’s decision and the defense arguments, in addition to discussing points of internal debate. They will then vote, by simple majority, on the opinion which will be transmitted to the plenary for examination.
The majority of the commission is made up of allies of the parliamentarian. The commission’s president, Rodrigo Amorim (União), is a first-time ally and has a direct and personal relationship with Bacellar. But there must also be dissenting voices. Luiz Paulo, leader of the PSD in the House, for example, declared that he would follow the party’s directives for the maintenance of the prison. Elika Takimoto must also follow the position of the PT, in favor of maintaining the prison.
After this step, the rite determines that in plenary, the deputies vote, openly and nominally, to maintain or revoke the arrest. The session will be led by the first vice-president of the Chamber, Guilherme Delaroli (PL), who will announce the subject, allow the leaders to speak and submit the subject to electronic voting. The result will be announced after checking the quorum. Alerj has 70 deputies and the decision requires an absolute majority: at least 36 votes.
There is still uncertainty over what will be voted on by MPs. The CCJ will decide whether to present a single draft resolution with two deliberations – on the release and removal of Bacellar – or whether there will be a separate vote on each of them. For Bacellar, it is important that everything is voted on together, because it can facilitate coordination for him to remain at the head of the House.
The opposition believes that the vote should take place in two stages. There is also a third possibility, in which the deputies would deliberate only on the arrest and leave the decision of dismissal to Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the STF.
Behind the scenes of Alerj, there is a climate according to which, whatever the vote, the deputies will be in a “complicated” position before the Chamber or their electoral bases. The discomfort of voting in favor of Bacellar’s arrest is against the backdrop of the fact that the congressman continues to exert influence on the decisions of the House, even in prison. Before being arrested by the PF, at the highest seat of the Legislative Assembly, he was known for reaching agreements with both the right and the left.
In discussions about votes, political spectrums are not even taken into account. What matters is the proximity and alignment of each parliamentarian with the government. Given the delicate exposure that the vote will entail, it is rumored that several deputies are seeking justification for being absent from this Monday’s vote. Even sick leave has already been broken down.
— Whoever can escape will try. Because whatever the vote, it’s very hard. If you vote to remain, you will be in a position of animosity within the House. If you vote for his release, you are not satisfied with your bases. It’s complicated — said an MP who did not want to be identified.
There have already been movements in Alerj reporting MPs’ strategies to avoid political attrition. Friday, by publication in the Official Journal, MP Jair Bittencourt (PL) left his mandate in Alerj and resumed his functions as Secretary of State for Regional Development of the Interior, Fisheries and Family Agriculture. In his place, the fourth PL substitute, Douglas Gomes, takes over. On his social networks, the reinstated deputy announced yesterday that he would vote for maintaining Bacellar prison.
News of Bacellar’s arrest:
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