Political rift laid bare as top lawmakers skip tax exemption ceremony

Despite the clear message behind the boycott, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his cabinet used the event at the presidential palace to downplay tensions, offering praise and conciliatory gestures to both congressional leaders.

In his speech, Lula avoided direct references but alluded to the situation, saying leaders must “learn how to talk” and “find the middle ground.” “No one has to be like the other. We just need to respect each other, learn to talk, and always find a middle ground that doesn’t serve one or the other, but serves everyone,” he said.

Institutional Relations Minister Gleisi Hoffmann, tasked with managing congressional relations, delivered the most direct message. She downplayed the absence, saying it “in no way overshadowed” their contributions.

“Political disputes and the defense of ideas are part of the process of winning over the majority of society,” Hoffmann said.

Finance Minister Fernando Haddad also weighed in, acknowledging the strain but stressing the importance of Congress in the tax reform. “Without the efforts of Motta and Alcolumbre, it would not have been possible to implement the income tax exemption for those earning up to R$5,000 starting next year,” he said.

The coordinated absence of both leaders reflects a renewed alliance between Motta and Alcolumbre, who had been at odds since the House passed a constitutional amendment limiting judicial action against lawmakers in September, a proposal unanimously rejected by the Senate a week later, angering Motta and other Lower House leaders.

Behind the snub

While their decision was aligned, Motta and Alcolumbre had separate reasons for skipping the event. Alcolumbre is at odds with Lula over his decision to nominate Jorge Messias, head of the Office of the Attorney General (AGU), to a seat on the Supreme Federal Court (STF). Alcolumbre made his dissatisfaction public and gave Messias only two weeks to lobby senators before his confirmation hearing scheduled for December 10.

Motta, on the other hand, is feuding with the Workers’ Party (PT), not Lula himself. He voiced discomfort over criticism from PT leader Lindbergh Farias after appointing lawmaker Guilherme Derrite to report on the controversial anti-gang bill. Motta felt the attacks on social media and in public statements were excessive.

Another reason Motta avoided the event, sources said, was a recent embarrassment when he was booed and heckled during a government ceremony on Teacher’s Day in Rio de Janeiro.

Spotlight shifts to political rivals

In the absence of the two congressional presidents, the spotlight fell on two political adversaries: Congressman Arthur Lira and Senator Renan Calheiros, the official rapporteurs of the income tax exemption bill.

Lira, Motta’s predecessor as speaker and now a key power broker, seized the moment. He offered praise for Lula, even hinting at a possible fourth term.

“It’s been an honor to work with Lula over these two years in an institutional, close, and correct relationship, always focused on ensuring balance in key votes for the country,” he said.

Lira also acknowledged Hoffmann and Haddad: “A special embrace to Minister Gleisi Hoffmann, my colleague in the Lower House, who has been doing a tough and thankless job coordinating this.”

Despite being longtime political rivals in the state of Alagoas, Lira and Renan’s presence on the same stage did not generate friction. To avoid tension, the presidential staff seated them on opposite ends of the stage—Renan at one end, Lira at the other.