Célia Xakriabá and Kim Kataguiri argue during environmental licensing vote; police are called

The vote on the bill that changes the rules for environmental licensing ended in turmoil in the early hours of Thursday 17, with intervention by the legislative police in the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies after an exchange of insults between deputy Célia Xakriabá (PSOL-MG) and deputy Kim Kataguiri (União Brasil-SP).

After Célia referred to Kataguiri as a “foreign and reborn deputy ,” questioning his legitimacy to debate indigenous issues; the parliamentarian originally from the so-called 'Free Brazil Movement' responded by saying that the PSOL member was “ cosplaying as a peacock,” making a pejorative reference to the headdress worn by the parliamentarian.

The confrontation escalated when another congressman, Bolsonaro supporter Rodolfo Nogueira (PL-MS), indirectly questioned how licensing for the “slaughter of peacocks” would work, in another reference to the headdress worn by the congresswoman of indigenous origin.

Tension turns into pushing and shoving

It was already past 2:30 a.m. when Célia began explaining that she was wearing a sacred headdress of the Fulni-ô people, made from feathers that peacocks naturally shed, and demanded respect for her traditional attire. "This is televised racism. I will certainly take the necessary measures," the parliamentarian declared to her colleagues in the chamber.

What began as an exchange of barbs over microphones escalated into a physical confrontation. Camera TV footage captured the moment when Hugo Motta (Republicans-PB), Speaker of the House, had to call the legislative police three times in a row to "restore order."

During the commotion, Congressman Coronel Meira (PL-PE) reported injuring his hand with a pen while trying to intervene. The PSOL member eventually left the chamber and received support from other congresswomen.

CartaCapital reached out to parliamentarians Célia Xakriabá and Kim Kataguiri, but has not yet received a response. The position remains open.

Comings and goings

The bill the lawmakers were discussing has a long history. Originally presented in 2004, the text remained stalled for nearly two decades until being unblocked this year. Progress was only possible after an agreement between Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP), president of the Senate, and the Parliamentary Agricultural Front (FPA).

After being approved in the Senate in May, the bill underwent its second vote in the Chamber. Rapporteur Zé Vitor (PL-MG) maintained Alcolumbre's amendment, which establishes a "special" license for businesses.

This special license can be granted even for projects that use environmental resources, actually or potentially causing significant environmental degradation — a point that has drawn criticism from environmentalists.