Brazilian senators Guilherme Derrite and Tereza Cristina have pushed back against the União Progressista federation’s endorsement of Davi Alcolumbre for another term as president of the Senate, prompting concern among federation leaders. The federation is expected to have 11 senators from February 2027.
Derrite, an elected senator for the Progressistas (PP) from São Paulo, said he would not vote for Alcolumbre and called for the right to unite behind a candidate. He is due to attend a meeting this week to discuss strategies for electing Rogério Marinho of the Liberal Party (PL), who represents Rio Grande do Norte.
Cristina, a PP senator from Mato Grosso do Sul, questioned the decision to announce a collective position in advance and emphasized that senators can vote independently in the secret ballot. She is also keeping her own name in the race for the Senate presidency.
PP leader Ciro Nogueira has told associates that he respects senators’ personal decisions. Some observers within the federation see the two senators’ statements as a challenge to his leadership, though allies say his position at the party’s helm is not in question. They also say Nogueira is monitoring the comments and is likely to speak with senators individually closer to the election.
Cristina met with Marinho last week to try to agree on a single opposition candidate against Alcolumbre, but the two did not reach an agreement. According to CNN Brasil, she intends to present herself as an alternative to both Alcolumbre and Marinho, arguing that she can work across a wider range of parties, including those in the governing camp and the Centrão bloc.
The Senate presidency election is scheduled for February 1, 2027. Because voting is secret and individual, senators can publicly depart from their parties’ position without their choices being identifiable at the ballot box.
Sources: CNN Brasil.