Bolsonaro Says Congress Seeks to Turn him Into a Queen of England

By Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Engaged in a troubled relationship with Congress, president Jair Bolsonaro said this Saturday, June 22nd, that the legislative is gaining more and more “superpowers” and wants to turn him into “a Queen of England”, who reigns but does not rule.

The president said he became aware of a bill in the chamber that would transfer the power to appoint regulatory agencies to legislators.

“If that turns into law, all agencies will be appointed by legislators. Imagine what criteria they’ll adopt. I don’t think I need to complement it,” said Bolsonaro.

The last bill passed in Federal Congress on the matter emerged from the Senate on June 6th and is currently on Bolsonaro’s desk for enactment or veto.

The text does not pass on the power to appoint directors, officers, presidents, chief executive officers, and general directors of regulatory agencies to the legislative. According to the approved bill, this is still up to the President, but now he would be required to choose one from a three-name list to be drawn up by a selection committee.

This collegiate’s composition and procedures shall be established in regulations, which must be enacted by presidential decree.

The Senate also removed some controversial portions included in the bill amending the General State Law. As a result, points were overturned that, in practice, would enable the appointment of politicians and their relatives to management positions in state companies.