Opposition presses for Moraes impeachment but sees resistance from Alcolumbre and centrão

The opposition wants to turn new revelations involving Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and former banker Daniel Vorcaro into a fresh impeachment push. Yet behind closed doors, senators acknowledge that the campaign has little chance of producing an immediate result.

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I only care about the election in Piauí. No other issue. That is not my focus, sorry.

Two allies of Senate President Davi Alcolumbre say they see no change in his position. One said the possibility of Alcolumbre opening an impeachment process remains “zero” and that any development in the Senate should come only after the elections. Alcolumbre, Moraes and former Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco have a close relationship, and both senators have consistently acted as a barrier against Moraes’s removal.

Pressure from the opposition is nevertheless growing. Senator Damares Alves said some lawmakers are discussing a repeat of the sit-in used when former President Jair Bolsonaro was arrested in August last year. “Brazil is waiting for this. I support occupying the Senate until Moraes is impeached or resigns. Brazil is waiting for this, it is appalling,” she said.

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Brazil is waiting for this. I support occupying the Senate until Moraes is impeached or resigns. Brazil is waiting for this, it is appalling.

The allegations were discussed Tuesday at a weekly lunch attended by Bolsonaro supporters. Senator Carlos Viana said Alcolumbre had kept impeachment requests in a drawer through political agreements. “The Senate is the chamber that must show backbone. We can no longer fail to respond,” he said.

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The Senate is the chamber that must show backbone. We can no longer fail to respond.

The controversy also puts centrão leader Ciro Nogueira under scrutiny. The Federal Police is investigating him in the Master case, and he declined to comment on the impeachment request or the inquiry, saying he was focused on his reelection campaign in Piauí. Presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro called the allegations serious and said Moraes should leave the Supreme Court, despite avoiding questions about his own relationship with Vorcaro, who financed a film about his father, Jair Bolsonaro. Lawmakers on both sides say the revelations could further inflame Brazil’s presidential and Senate elections.

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It is very serious. I think Alexandre de Moraes should resign from the Supreme Federal Court. He can no longer continue as a Supreme Court justice.