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🇧🇷 Brazil /Elections & Politics

Right wing shoots itself in the foot by focusing on STF impeachment, people want end to 6x1, says new Lula leader in Senate

From Folha de S.Paulo · () Portuguese

Translated from Portuguese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The new government leader in Brazil's Senate, Teresa Leitão, believes the right wing will harm itself by focusing on impeaching Supreme Court justices.
  • Leitão argues that reducing the standard 6x1 workday is a popular measure that will benefit left-wing candidates, regardless of its passage before elections.
  • The government sees the potential "Congress against the people" narrative, similar to last year, as a tool if the workday reduction proposal stalls in the Senate.

Brazil's new Senate leader for the Lula government, Teresa Leitão, asserts that the right wing is making a strategic error by campaigning on impeaching Supreme Court justices. She argues this focus will backfire, as the general public is more concerned with tangible issues like the proposed reduction of the standard 6x1 workday.

The right wing will shoot itself in the foot by saying it wants to get elected to impeach ministers. What do the common people know about this? The common people know about the PEC, 80% know about the PEC, they know what it will change in their lives.

— Teresa LeitãoExplaining her view on the right wing's campaign strategy.

"The common people know about the PEC (Proposed Constitutional Amendment), 80% know about the PEC, they know what it will change in their lives," Leitão stated in an interview. She highlighted that professions across the service sector are inquiring about the vote, indicating the measure's significant traction in public imagination. A May Datafolha poll showed 71% support for reducing working hours.

Leitão acknowledged the sensitive nature of the workday reduction debate, noting it will likely become a campaign issue regardless of the outcome. She believes the proposal serves as a political asset for its proponents, while its opponents will be clearly identified.

Camera operator, cleaner, makeup artist, these service people, they are all asking me when this PEC will be voted on. It has captured the imagination.

— Teresa LeitãoIllustrating the public's interest in the workday reduction proposal.

Within President Lula's administration, there's a consensus that if the Senate delays the 6x1 workday reduction, the Workers' Party (PT) could revive the "Congress against the people" slogan. This narrative proved effective last year, contributing to an improvement in Lula's approval ratings. Meanwhile, Senate President Davi Alcolumbre has indicated he will not schedule a vote on the 6x1 proposal until he discusses it with Lula, with whom he has had a strained relationship since the rejection of a Lula-appointed justice.

It serves whether approved or not, it serves as merit for whoever approved it. Whoever did not approve it will be listed by those who want to approve it.

— Teresa LeitãoDescribing the political implications of the workday reduction vote.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Folha de S.Paulo in Portuguese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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