BBB Bench

In Brazilian politics, the BBB Bench is a collective term used to informally describe three powerful political factions (bancadas, literally "benches") in the National Congress associated with the conservative right.[1][2] These encompass the Bullet Bench (bancada da bala), legislators supportive of protecting and expanding gun rights,[2] the Rural Bench (bancada ruralista, often referred to as the bancada do boi, the Ox Bench), legislators aligned with agribusiness interests,[3][4][5] and the Evangelical Bench (bancada evangélica, often referred to as the bancada da bíblia), aligned with the country's evangelical movement.[6][7][2]

The term “BBB” was used for the first time by federal deputy Erika Kokay at a meeting of the Workers' Party (PT) bench in the Chamber of Deputies in early 2015, eliciting laughter from colleagues.[8] The expression soon became popular as a derogatory term used by leftists against their conservative opponents, who they deemed a threat to human and minority rights.[9]

The BBB Bench played a crucial role in the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff.[4] Even prior to Dilma's impeachment, the BBB Bench had already begun pressuring centre-right Vice President Michel Temer to support their proposals.[10][11] In the 2018 presidential election, federal deputy Jair Bolsonaro, a member of the BBB Bench, was elected President of Brazil.

  1. ^ Alessi, Gil (2017-12-07). "Bancada da Bala, Boi e Bíblia impõe ano de retrocesso para mulheres e indígenas". El País (in Brazilian Portuguese).
  2. ^ a b c Cavalcanti, Roxana Pessoa (2017). "How Brazil's far right became a dominant political force". The Conversation.
  3. ^ Castilho, Alceu Luís (2018-08-12). "A SERPENTE FORA DO OVO: a frente do agronegócio e o supremacismo ruralista". OKARA: Geografia Em Debate (in Brazilian Portuguese). 12 (2): 699–707. doi:10.22478/ufpb.1982-3878.2018v12n2.41337. ISSN 1982-3878.
  4. ^ a b "Boi, Bíblia e bala: 'bancada BBB' engrossa derrota de Dilma na Câmara". Folha de S.Paulo.
  5. ^ "Bancadas da Bala, da Bíblia e do Boi pressionam Temer - Política - Estadão". Estadão.
  6. ^ Gabriel Castro e Marcela Mattos (23 March 2013). "Vinde a mim os eleitores: a força da bancada evangélica no Congresso". Revista Veja. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  7. ^ Gabriel Castro e Marcela Mattos (23 March 2013). "Vinde a mim os eleitores". Revista Veja, Ed. Abril. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  8. ^ ""Aumenta a bancada BBB: Bíblia, boi e bala", diz Erika Kokay". revistaepoca.globo.com. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  9. ^ anachiaveg. "A bancada BBB domina o Congresso". CartaCapital.
  10. ^ "Bancadas da Bala, da Bíblia e do Boi pressionam Temer - Política - Estadão". Estadão. 25 April 2016.
  11. ^ "BBB já cobra Temer: bancadas da bala, da Bíblia e do boi pressionam o vice - Agência Estado - UOL Notícias". UOL Notícias. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2017.