Now ahead of Fin, Rodrigo Maia maintains articulation to calm STF and Congress

Eight kilometers from the congress, Rodrigo Maia is experiencing a routine that holds similarities to the more than four years in which he has been in charge of the Chamber of Deputies. The cabinet with direct access to the plenary is no longer the place of receptions or mobile conversations, a device that is always in your hands, but politicians, entrepreneurs and members of the judiciary’s summit continue to be frequent interlocutors. The “office” is now a house in Lago Sul, the most valued region of Brasilia. In the most recent articulation, the former deputy and today CEO of the National Confederation of Financial Institutions (Fin) dealt with ministers of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) about the reach of the magnitsky law, evoking the concern of the entities that represents, such as the Brazilian Federation of Banks (Febuban), with the “legal certainty” after the decision of Minister Flávio Dino reinforcing that international rules are only valid in Brazil with Brazil Judiciary endorsement.

The magistrate’s order was published at the moment when financial institutions already dealt with more doubts than certainty. From Lake Sul, Maia spoke with ministers Gilmar Mendes and Alexandre de Moraes, target of the financial sanctions imposed by the Government of Donald Trump.

The former parliamentarian also went to the court for a meeting with Minister Cristiano Zanin, rapporteur of an action that will specifically define whether the American legislation used as punishment Moraes has effectiveness in Brazil. According to interlocutors of both, one of the points under discussion was the possibility of banks formally manifesting themselves in the action asking clarification on how they should proceed – law firms were hired in Brazil and the US to guide.

Another hypothesis is the holding of a public hearing bringing together the stakeholders. Zanin, however, has already indicated that he will wait for the position of the Attorney General’s Office (PGR).

In other meetings he had on the subject, Maia listened – and ruled out – the suggestion that STF ministers would take bank accounts to institutions that do not keep business in the US and are out of magnitsky’s reach, such as credit cooperatives. The former deputy, however, is insisting that there is a way for an understanding between the judiciary and the financial market. In this task, it has a “neutral territory”, a classification that the house in Lago Sul receives from frequent attendees. The address is described as a place where it is possible to talk without public exposure, and with the mediation of an experienced name in complex political negotiations.

Bridge with the opposition

It was in this environment that, on the eve of the sanction against Moraes, Maia promoted a breakfast with Gilmar Mendes, PL leaders in Congress, Deputy Sostenes Cavalcante (RJ) and Senator Rogério Marinho (RN), and party president Valdemar Costa Neto. The meeting was described as cordial, although it has not produced practical advances on opposition interest, such as amnesty those involved on January 8. The initiative, however, annoyed members of the Bolsonaro family, such as Deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP), who saw an unwanted approach between party leaders and the Supreme.

“Rodrigo Maia is a great political articulator and always seeks to pacify and understanding for the sake of the country,” said Sostenes.

Another recurring theme in the conversations is the proposal to reform the budget defended by Maia, which, among other points, links the parliamentary amendments to the public policies that the government considers priority. The foot in Congress has also manifested in dinners with parliamentarians from the left and in the joints that consolidated Hugo Motta (Republicans-PB) as a candidate for Arthur Lira’s succession in the House earlier this year. Two weeks ago, when opposition deputies made a riot that paralyzed the House’s work after the house arrest of former President Jair Bolsonaro, Maia talked to Motta and gave suggestions on how to deal with the situation.

In another situation of tension, when Government and Congress went through a clash around the increase in the tax on financial operations (IOF), Motta acted for a political reaction and defended in closed meetings that the measure increased costs and would hinder the productive sector. The parliament overturned the decree, but a decision of Moraes later restored the larger tax rate.

– At this time of much political instability, permanent dialogue with Congress is necessary. And he has stature and respect to lead him, ”said Deputy Beto Pereira (PSDB-MS), one of the home goers in South Lake.