Deputies take advantage of locked agenda and take “off” for June parties

While several Brazilian parliamentarians take advantage of this week and the next to participate in the June festivities across the country, important matters for Brazil are “on hold” waiting for the break to end and the normal return of legislative activities.

The last deliberative session of the Chamber was held on Tuesday (20), with the vote on some constitutional urgencies and the beginning of the debate on the Executive’s Food Acquisition Program. Other matters, however, could not move forward because, in addition to the slack, the bill on the casting vote of the Financial Resources Administration Council (CARF) is blocking the agenda of the plenary of the Chamber. The instrument provides for the victory of the Federal Revenue in the judgments of the body in the event of a tie, to the detriment of the taxpayer.

That is, while this matter is not analyzed, no other bill can be put to the vote – the presentation of the report on the proposal is scheduled for July 4th. This is because the project for the casting vote was sent by the Executive to the Chamber with constitutional urgency, which prevents the voting on other bills.

However, the analysis of other matters, such as requirements, draft legislative decrees and Proposed Amendments to the Constitution, could still be appreciated by the deputies. It is also possible to hold general committees, when the Plenary meets to discuss matters of general interest, which could happen next week with the tax reform.

Carf project rapporteur tries to reach agreement with leaders

According to the mayor, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), the rapporteur of the Carf project, Beto Pereira (PSDB-MS), tries to reach a consensus for approval of the text, which should be presented to the leaders in the House only on the eve of the vote. The government’s proposal is to reverse a law passed in 2020, which gave victory to the taxpayer in case of a tie in Carf. When it presented the MP on the subject, the government claimed tax losses of BRL 60 billion because of this rule.

The MP lost its validity on June 1st, without being voted on by parliamentarians, and for this reason it was transformed into a bill and began to prevent further plenary votes from June 21st.

Sources heard by People’s Gazette they say that this lockdown came in handy, since the lack of votes in plenary allows deputies to spend more time in the states – and participate in the June festivities.

June Tradition

Political scientist Cristiano Noronha, from Arko Advice, explains that this decrease in parliamentary activities in June is already a “tradition” in Congress. For him, it is not necessarily a loss, since many committees have scheduled meetings and even the tax reform itself could be better digested in this period.

He mentions that the stoppage will not be total, since the meetings of the CPMI must continue. But without deliberative sessions, many deputies end up staying in their states, which can cancel previously scheduled agendas due to lack of quorum.

Tax reform and fiscal framework will be on the agenda of the Chamber in July

The plenary agenda for the return of parliamentary activity, in early July, provides for the text on the Carf, the amendments made by the Senate to the text of the fiscal framework and the tax reform.

The rapporteur, Deputy Aguinaldo Ribeiro (PP-SP), presented a preview to the governors this Thursday (22nd), at a meeting at the official residence of the Presidency of the Chamber.

After the meeting, Lira said that “the text will be made available for everyone to criticize and it will not be what will be voted on”. “Suggestions were made, and I understand that they will be accommodated in front of the text. It’s a complex topic, and we have an obligation to deliver the best reform,” she added.

While the Chamber does not have deliberative sessions scheduled until the 4th of July, President Arthur Lira leaves for Portugal, where he participates in the XI Legal Forum of Lisbon, which starts on Monday (26). This Friday, Lira participates in a meeting at the Brazilian Embassy in the Portuguese capital.