RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Wednesday, February 3rd, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (no party affiliation) met the newly-elected president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), and that of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (DEM-MG), to present his program on healthcare, economic recovery and state reform, to be debated in Congress.
Lira, from the Progressive Party (PP), and Pacheco, from the Democratas Party (DEM), were elected by their peers on Monday, February 1st; both had received Bolsonaro’s support for their campaigns.
“This dialogue did not begin today, it began during the campaign itself. We have suggested guidelines for the presidents of the House and the Senate, and they can be absolutely sure: the climate is the best possible and harmony will prevail between us,” Bolsonaro said after the meeting at government headquarters.
Lira and Pacheco also advocated dialogue and harmony between the legislative and executive brancjhes, while safeguarding their independence.
Previously, Lira and Pacheco signed a joint document detailing the priorities of the Congress.
“The main objective is the safe, speedy and smart confrontation of the pandemic, with the availability of vaccines, of course. And the economic recovery of Brazil,” said Pacheco.
The new legislative year was to be inaugurated on Wednesday afternoon with a solemn opening session of Congress, which traditionally begins with the reading of a message from the nation’s president.