Opposition senators keep Senate table taken and lights out to block vote

Despite the microphones and lights off in the main hall, the opposition senators that occupied the Senate table have still not left their positions blocking the vote on the labor reform. Senate head Eunício Oliveira was prevented from presiding over the session in which the vote would be held.

The protest is being staged by Senators Gleisi Hoffmann, Fátima Bezerra, Ângela Portela, Vanessa Grazziotin, Lídice de Mata, Regina Sousa, and Kátia Abreu.

The occupation was met with criticism by senators backing the government: “A real shame to the Senate,” said Senator Garibaldi Alves Filho, of the ruling Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB).

Senator Jorge Viana, in turn, argued that the deadlock comes as a result of how the government has led the overhauls in Congress. “It's the attitude of a group of senators—not surprising, bearing in mind the impasse currently facing Brazil,” he said.

Ever since the session was suspended, Senator Eunício Oliveira has met with senators from a number of pro-government parties in a bid to find an answer to the problem.

One of the alternatives is to transfer the session to Petrônio Portela auditorium, also in the Senate. However, the place has been taken by unionists demonstrating against the reform and against Temer's administration.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira