Infighting in Brazil’s Ruling Party Costs Bolsonaro Key Allies
- Bolsonaro at war with PSL leaders, in bid to control party
- President may give up naming son as ambassador to U.S.
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President Jair Bolsonaro is losing allies in Congress as he fights over control of his own political party and tries to distance himself from allegations of campaign financing irregularities at last year’s elections.
The president cut ties with two lawmakers that were among his main supporters, dismissing Joice Hasselmann from her post as government leader in Congress and attempting to replace the leader of his PSL party in the lower house, deputy Waldir de Oliveira. Hasselmann, one of the most media-savvy lawmakers to emerge in Brazil’s crop of outsider politicians, was the most-voted congresswoman in the country’s history. Oliveira was an old-time ally.