Tchau, querida! versus Fica, querida!: a trajetória dos evangélicos na política e as motivações religiosas no (A)Deus à presidenta Dilma Rousseff

Abstract

This doctoral thesis addresses the impeachment admissibility process of former President Dilma Rousseff at the House of Representatives in the first semester of 2016. Our object of study comprises the speeches delivered in House of Representatives by members of the Evangelical Parliamentary Front (EPF). Aiming at scrutinizing this set of speeches, a French version of Discourse Analysis (DA) was applied as an instrument suitable for the examination of political speeches and cognitive meaning making. The thesis is divided into three parts: the first deals with the question of State laicity vis à vis the growing presence of religion in the public sphere; the second offers a debate around the main features of secularism in Brazil, and the third traces back the path of the Evangelical movement from a rather “quietist” political behavior to an enpowerment. The National Constituent Assembly (1986-1988) represented the landmark of the Evangelical political activism, as it played and still plays, an important role as claims makers of a conservative agenda. The impact of religious forces in presidential campaigns from the 1990´s till the last one (2018) which elected Jair Bolsonaro also comes under close scrutiny, with large support from the FPE. Drawing upon the Discourse Analysis, it was found a relevant overlapping of religious and political variables as religious motivations were a constant in the speeches and propositions of all members of the EPF. We also note in the speeches a nationalist content in favor of the defense of life and the traditional family. It was also confirmed that the 2016-historical Session of the Chamber of Deputies, which brought to an end 16 years of centerleft government in Brazil, represented a kairotic moment for the self-affirmation of the Evangelical activism in the political sphere with a direct impact on the country's Legislative and Executive branches.