Agro and evangelicals attack Lula’s education plan – 01/24/2024 – Education

The ruralist and evangelical benches of the National Congress mobilized against the PNE (National Education Plan) of the Lula (PT) government.

In a joint note published this Wednesday (24), the two groups, in addition to other Congressional fronts linked to conservative movements, called for the postponement of this year’s Conae (National Education Conference) and criticized the educational policies of the PT administration.

The parliamentarians’ action further intensifies the relationship between the PT government and the more conservative wing of Congress, and once again places education as the stage for this political dispute.

In November 2023, the ruralist bench had already criticized the Enem (National Secondary Education Examination) and requested the annulment of questions related to agribusiness — the questions, according to the Minister of Education, Camilo Santana, had been prepared during the government of the former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

More recently, after Lula revoked a rule that granted tax benefits to pastors, the evangelical bench criticized the PT administration and asked for the advantage to be regained.

The 2024 Conae was called in an extraordinary manner by the Lula government to debate the National Education Plan and is scheduled to begin on January 28th. The program runs until the 30th.

The parliamentary fronts criticize excerpts from the conference’s reference document, which should guide the group’s discussions. They claim that there are points with political and ideological bias in the document.

Conae proposes, for example, the demilitarization of schools, criticizes the practice of “homeschooling” (teaching at home), the Escola Sem Partido movement and policies called ultra-conservative. It also defends topics such as gender and religious diversity, debates on LGBTQIA+ and environmental issues.

“The base text exposes several political-ideological issues, without scientific basis, which we recommend suspending so that all economic and social sectors can actively participate in the discussions”, complain evangelicals and ruralists, in a note.

Lula’s allies reacted. Deputy Pedro Uczai (PT-SC) stated that the document is the result of a democratic construction process, and that trying to obstruct the conference is a movement against pluralism and the debate of different opinions.

“The evangelical bench and the ruralist bench have the legitimacy to oppose certain issues, but they cannot make the democratic process unfeasible. They are not very fond of democracy and social participation,” he said.

“These sectors have to live with democracy, diversity and plurality. This is the essence of democracy and of a republic in a country. Only those who want to effectively assert their position as victorious in society, authoritatively, who are capable of criticizing or questioning or suggesting transfer, suspension of the National Education Conference”, he added.

The note from the parliamentary fronts is another chapter in the tension between the Executive and Legislative branches.

The evangelical bench mobilized against Lula after the revocation of tax benefits for pastors.

At the beginning of 2024, in compliance with an agreement signed at the beginning of 2023, the Evangelical Parliamentary Front will once again be commanded by the more conservative and Bolsonarist wing – averse to PT management.

After being led by Silas Câmara (Republicanos-AM), a deputy who maintains dialogue with members of the Lula government, the group will now be led by Eli Borges (PL-TO), from Bolsonaro’s party.

The ruralist bench has consolidated itself during the Bolsonaro government as one of the most powerful fronts in the Chamber of Deputies.

In 2023, he not only led the movements against the STF (Supreme Federal Court), but also caused important defeats in the Lula government.

Conae is one of the most important stages of discussion and support of the National Education Plan, which is prepared by the Executive.

The mobilization of the evangelical and ruralist benches, which hold the majority of parliamentarians in Congress, is relevant because the federal government’s plan needs to be presented in the form of a bill and, therefore, be approved by the Chamber and the Senate, where it can also be modified.

Other parliamentary fronts also signed the document against Conae, such as Commerce and Services, Public Security (linked to the bullet bench) and Brasil Texas.