Opposition leader Rogério Marinho launches bid to lead Brazil's Senate

Summary written by the Panorama newsroom from the sources listed below. Facts are attributed to the original publications.

Senator Rogério Marinho (PL-RN), the opposition leader in Brazil's Senate, announced on Wednesday (4) that he will run for president of the chamber for the 2027-2028 term, g1 reported. The launch came after a meeting of the Liberal Party (PL) caucus in Brasília.

His main opponent is expected to be the current president, Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP), who is working toward reelection and has already announced support from the União-PP federation and from members of the MDB and PSD, while also seeking votes from allies of President Lula and from the right. Senator Tereza Cristina (PP-MS) is also mentioned as a possible candidate; Marinho said the two are "on the same side."

The vote takes place in the first week of February by secret ballot, and the winner needs at least 41 of the 81 votes. Marinho will have the backing of the PL, which will have 29 senators in 2027, the largest caucus, but he will need to negotiate with other parties; he mentioned talks with lawmakers from the PP and Republicanos. The senator advocated an open vote, although the chamber's rules call for a secret ballot.

On impeachment requests against Supreme Federal Court (STF) justices, a cause championed by Bolsonaro supporters, Marinho said he will not campaign on that issue but will not be negligent if any justice commits an impeachable offense. He also said he favors an amnesty for those convicted over the January 8 attacks and the coup plot, noting that the decision will rest with the senators as a whole.

An economist, aged 62, Marinho is in his first Senate term. He was a federal deputy, rapporteur of the 2017 labor reform and minister of Regional Development in the Jair Bolsonaro government. This year, he coordinated the presidential campaign of Flávio Bolsonaro, who was defeated by Lula in October.