8 January CPMI


The 8 January CPMI was a parliamentary inquiry commission in Brazil that investigated the invasion and attack of the Praça dos Três Poderes against the National Congress of Brazil on 8 January 2023.

Background

After acts of vandalism by supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro against the Supreme Federal Court building, the National Congress Palace and the Planalto Palace, many disclaimer notes and solidarity notes supporting Lula's government and the defense of democracy in Brazil was published by the country's federative units and foreign countries.
The CPI was first suggested by Bolsonaro supporters, who endorsed the theory that the federal government infiltrated people among the protesters to allow the invasion and pose as a victim. Senator Soraya Thronicke was the CPI rapporteur on the Senate and she could gather enough signatures, but Congress president Rodrigo Pacheco hadn't form it. Until then, the government coalition had a position against the creation of the commission for considering that the investigations were ongoing by the Judiciary Power and the legislative branch of the Federal District. Later, CNN Brazil published CCTV video, which was classified at the time, showing members of the Institutional Security Bureau ignoring the presence of the vandals, leading to the removal of Gonçalves Dias, head of the department appointed by Lula. Therefore, the creation of the CPI became inevitable to oppose the infiltration theory. Representative André Fernandes filed a new CPI request and the opposition obstructed all of the voting until the reading of the request.

Members

Director's Board

Democracy Parliamentary Bloc (MDB/UNIÃO/PODE/PSDB/PDT)

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UNIÃO/PP/PSDB Cidadania Federation/PDT/PSB/Avante/Solidariedade/Patriota Bloc

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First Week

On the first week of the CPMI, there was resistance to the nomination of Eliziane Gama as rapporteur by the opposition, for considering her a "partial" congresswoman during hearings. However, the position was countered by government lawmakers. Other decision contested was the position of a 2nd Vice Chair, with the nomination of senator Esperidião Amin. However, according to the internal statute of both houses, such an act would be a violation of Article 20 of the National Congress. However, according to Congressman Rubens Pereira, Article 21 of the same regiment did not forbid it in mixed parliamentary inquiry commissions. During the session, the opposition tried to unbind themselves from the 8 January attacks. Congressman Marco Felicia denied that the vandals had promoted a coup d'état. Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro affirmed that "there were infiltrated people" among the protesters, citing also supposed "violations of human rights and arbitrary arrests".