In addition to PT, Lula prioritizes Centrão parties in releasing amendments

In the strategy to try to consolidate a base in the National Congress, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) released, in the first ten days of May alone, almost R$ 1.27 billion in parliamentary amendments. In addition to prioritizing the PT bench, the PT focused on releasing funds for Centrão parties, with emphasis on the PSD, MDB and União Brasil, which together have nine government ministries.

The amount was pledged by the Planalto Palace as a way of waving to the deputies and senators after the series of defeats that Lula suffered in the Chamber of Deputies, with the postponement of the vote on the Fake News PL and with the overthrow of the decrees on the Marco do Sanitation. The defeats were seen as a way for parliamentarians to put pressure on the government to release funds.

Commitment is the first stage of public expenditure execution. With it, the government formalizes that it will reserve a portion of the money available in the Budget for that expense. That is, it works as a guarantee by the Planalto that the payment will be made.

With that, the Lula government believes it will be possible to enlist the support base within the Chamber and the Senate to approve matters of interest to the Executive. This week, for example, the Planalto Palace is working to try to move forward with the proposal for the new fiscal framework, presented by the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad.

“It’s like water to wine, so much so that you can say exactly who the resources were released to, with transparency. It is important for us to be able to detail what the government’s action has been in releasing this resource”, defended the Minister of Institutional Relations, Alexandre Padilha.

PT was the main beneficiary of the amendments released by Lula

Lula’s Party, the PT has been the main beneficiary in the release of funds made by the Planalto Palace, according to a survey carried out by the People’s Gazette together with Siga Brasil, the platform of the National Congress. Until last Friday (12), PT deputies and senators had already received more than R$ 205 million in amendments.

The leader of the government in the Senate, Senator Jaques Wagner (BA), leads the ranking with just over R$ 15.6 million in indicated amendments. He is followed by Paulo Paim (RS), who was awarded BRL 10.1 million. In the Chamber, the list is led by deputy from Minas Gerais Leonardo Monteiro, who received R$ 10.1 million, followed by the leader of the government in the House, deputy José Guimarães (CE), with R$ 9.3 million.

This Monday (15th), Lula met with members of the government and PT leaders to discuss the party’s support for the text of the new fiscal framework. During the meeting, Lula indicated that he will not accept opposition to the text or splits within the party during the vote in the Chamber or Senate.

Since the presentation of the proposal by Minister Haddad, some PT parliamentarians have been pressing for changes in the text and suggesting amendments to the project. Planalto advisers admit that any PT dissidents may lose government appointments and spaces in Parliamentary Inquiry Commissions (CPIs).

Last week, Planalto vetoed Lindbergh Farias (RJ) to compose the CPI of the coup acts as “punishment” for having criticized the proposal of the new fiscal anchor. The parliamentarian from Rio de Janeiro is not on the list of those contemplated by the release of amendments made by the government so far.

PSD, União Brasil and MDB leaders receive millions in funds

Followed by the PT, the PSD, of the president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (MG), was the main beneficiary of the releases of Lula’s amendments. In all, the acronym was contemplated with R$ 181 million. Senator Mara Gabrilli (SP), for example, was the main beneficiary, with more than R$ 26.7 million. In the Chamber, deputies Antônio Brito (BA) and Júlio César (PI) received 7.9 million and R$ 7.3 million, respectively.

União Brasil, which also has three departments at the Esplanada dos Ministérios, received R$ 158.3 million. The main recipient was Senator Jayme Campos (MT), with more than 16.8 million. In the Chamber, Dr. Zacharias Calil (GO) received more than R$10.6 million, followed by Juninho do Pneu (RJ) with R$9.3 million. Such as People’s Gazette showed, the Lula government has sought to expand support within the party.

For the MDB bench, the Planalto Palace released about R$ 140.5 million. One of Lula’s main allies, Senator Renan Calheiros (AL) was the main beneficiary, with around R$ 16 million in amendments. Senator Marcelo Castro (PI), who made it possible to approve the PEC during the transition period, received R$ 15.4 million. In the Chamber, deputy Gutemberg Reis (RJ) received R$ 10 million in amendments.

Lula uses amendments to enable approval of fiscal framework

In addition, Lula wants to attract the support of other opposition parties such as the Republicans and PP and PL to try to approve the new fiscal framework. Planalto’s expectation is to attract at least 75 deputies and senators from these parties to the governing base.

In the ranking of release of amendments, for example, the Republican bench was in fifth place, behind only the parties that make up the first echelon of government. The release, however, contemplated only the Chamber’s bench, which adds up to 41 deputies. Together, they received more than R$ 122 million.

Deputy Aluísio Mendes (MA) leads with more than R$ 14.9 million in amendments. After the release, the parliamentarian used social networks to celebrate the release of resources for his state. In the Senate, where the Republican bench has opposition senators such as Damares Alves (DF) and Hamilton Mourão (RS) there has been no release of amendments, so far.

In addition, the PP, from the mayor, Arthur Lira (AL), received R$ 116 million, followed by the PL, from former president Jair Bolsonaro, who received R$ 89 million. In the case of the PP, deputy Claudio Cajado (PE), who is the rapporteur for the fiscal framework, was the main beneficiary with more than R$ 10 million in released amendments. In the PL, Senator Romário (RJ) leads with more than R$ 13.3 million.