Severino Cavalcanti
Who is Severino Cavalcanti?
Cavalcanti, from the Partido Progressista (PP), was elected as the president of the lower chamber of the Brazilian congress on 14 February. The PP is a small conservative party that represents agro-businesses in congress. Cavalcanti is the author of new labour legislation protecting small businesses and fought for the impeachment of 11 congressmen who breached parliamentary decorum. Cavalcanti is a well-known moral crusader. He is the author of several conservative bills, including the prohibition of broadcasts containing scenes of sex, nudity and violence on TV and of anti-abortion legislation.
Why watch him?
Cavalcanti beat two candidates from the ruling Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) to become the president of the lower chamber. His was a historical victory, not least because it is the first time that the president of the lower chamber has not come from its largest party. According to the parliament's proportionality principles, the position should have gone to the PT but Cavalcanti took advantage of the PT's split over two candidates. His campaign was based on increasing the salaries of his fellow congressmen. Cavalcanti's victory was a setback for the government, which lost control of the legislative agenda. President Lula da Silva was also obliged to take the PP on board and, at Cavalcanti's insistence, the party will now control the important communications ministry in the new cabinet, which is to be announced soon.
Date of birth: 18 December 1930
Educated: High School Diploma, Colegio Maria José, São Paulo.
Place of Birth: The small town of João Alfredo, in the north-eastern state of Pernambuco.
Timeline
1964-1966: Mayor of João Alfredo (União Democrática Nacional).
1967-95: Member of Pernambuco's state assembly (1966-80: ARENA, extinct
party that sustained the military dictatorship; 1980-87: Partido Democrático
Social, defunct right-wing party heir of ARENA; 1987-90: Partido Democrata
Cristão; 1990-92: Partido Liberal; 1992-94: Partido Progressista Reformador;
1995: Partido da Frente Liberal).
1996-2007: Member of the national congress (1995: Partido da Frente
Liberal; 1996-present: PP, until 2003 the party was called Partido Progressista
Brasileiro).
1997-2001: Twice elected vice-president of congress.
2001-2003: Elected first-secretary of congress. 2002: Elected his
daughter, Ana Cavalcanti, for Pernambuco's state assembly.
2003-2005: Elected second-secretary of congress.
2005-2007: President of the lower chamber of congress.
Strengths
Cavalcanti is an astute politician who grabs an opportunity when he sees it. His
recent electoral success made him the longest-serving consecutive member of the
congressional leadership. His constant struggle to raise legislators' wages
makes him very popular with the so-called "lower clergy", backbenchers
in congress. He forced the government to back down over a decree raising taxes
on 17 March.
Weaknesses
Cavalcanti's support base in congress is not what one could call faithful. His
appeal rests mostly on honouring promises such as increasing congressmen's
wages. Cavalcanti knows his room for manoeuvre will depend on maintaining a good
relationship with the senate and the government. He was embarrassingly defeated
when the upper house rejected his proposal to raise congressmen's salaries,
following popular uproar. He also has connections with members of the impeached
former president Fernando Collor de Mello's corruption-tainted sect.
Prospects
Cavalcanti's presidency could cause friction with the government. Cavalcanti has
so far played his part well, throwing out a motion of censure brought against
President Lula da Silva by the opposition Partido da Social Democracia
Brasileira (PSDB) on 8 March, following Lula's careless comments accusing the
former PSDB's administration of corruption. In exchange, the small PP won a
higher standing in the government.