Amidst money embezzlement accusations and ministers being fired, the Brazilian House of Representatives inflicted president Bolsonaro's first significant defeat in Congress, by approving a bill that overthrows an Executive decree altering the rules in the Law of Information Access, Brazil's version of the Freedom of Information Act. It has been forwarded now to the Brazilian Senate.
If approved there, the bill will render null a decree signed by vice-president Hamilton Mourão on January 24th, which increased the number of government employees that can classify documents as confidential or secret. Even civil servants in temporary contracts would be allowed to do it.
Bolsonaro's party PSL was the only one who directed its members to vote against the bill's urgency, which would speed the decree's dismissal. The vote was 367 against the proclamation to 57 in favor.
Representatives heard on background said that Bolsonaro's defeat was a direct message from House leader Rodrigo Maia (DEM-RJ) to the firing of minister Gustavo Bebianno, since they were both close. Sources say that this is only the first "message" that the House plans to send to the president.
The representatives complain about lack of communication between the House and the administration, and House leaders didn't appreciate having been kept out of the loop before the Social Security Reform bill was presented to Congress.
Translated by NATASHA MADOV