Senate President Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP) said on Friday that the Senate will move forward with the government’s priority proposals only after the October elections. The statement came after a meeting with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), during which the two leaders aligned on the legislative agenda for the remainder of the year.
Key proposals postponed
Alcolumbre indicated that two constitutional amendments championed by the Planalto—the end of the 6x1 workweek and a public security overhaul—will not be debated in the Senate until November. The 6x1 proposal, which seeks to reduce the weekly work schedule from six days to four, was approved by the Chamber of Deputies in May but has stalled in the Senate. The public security PEC aims to give constitutional status to the Unified Public Security System (SUSP), permanently earmark financing for the National Public Security Fund and the Penitentiary Fund, and protect those funds from contingent cuts or blockages, similar to the treatment of health and education budgets.
Electoral timing as justification
The Senate president justified the delay by arguing that discussing such polarizing topics during the election campaign could "contaminate" the political debate. He noted that, until early October, legislators will be focused on campaigning in their home districts, restricting plenary sessions to a concentrated effort week from August 31 to September 4—a period he deemed insufficient for committee review and floor debate.
Other agenda items
Alcolumbre also confirmed that the Senate will proceed with the National Policy on Strategic and Critical Minerals (PL 2780/2024), which was approved by the Chamber and establishes the Council for National Industrialization of Critical and Strategic Minerals (CIMCE) linked to the Presidency. The bill creates incentives for research, extraction, processing, and value‑added production of minerals such as rare earths, and includes financing mechanisms. He said the Senate and Chamber are moving toward joint consideration of such proposals to streamline the legislative process.
Tone of the meeting
Describing the encounter with Lula, Alcolumbre called the dialogue "mature, republican and frank." He emphasized his responsibility as president of the National Congress to ensure that matters submitted to Parliament receive proper consideration, respecting legislative prerogatives and the role of each senator.
Lula’s allies welcomed the talks. PT president Edinho Silva said the contact had been of "the highest level" and had produced an important agenda for the government’s deliveries, stressing that ending the 6x1 workweek, approving the security PEC, and regulating critical minerals are fundamental for workers, federal cooperation against crime, and national sovereignty.
Single‑source reporting
This article is based on reporting from CNN Brasil. No additional sources were consulted for this piece.