Lira classifies Lula’s decree on sanitation as “retrogression”

The mayor, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), classified this Friday (7) as a setback the decree of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) that changes the legal framework of basic sanitation. According to Lira, parliament intends to “critically” analyze the decree signed by the PT.

“I defend the revision of the Sanitation Legal Framework with the purpose of improving the current legislation. However, I warn that parliament will carefully analyze the suggestions, but will not allow setbacks”, said Lira.

Lira used Twitter to comment on a previous statement in which he criticized Lula’s decrees and stated that changes in the sanitation framework must be carried out by the Legislature. Among other points, the decree allows state-owned companies to maintain contracts without bidding with municipalities, a practice that was prohibited by the legal framework.

Enacted in July 2020, the sanitation framework stimulated competition in the sewage collection and treatment and drinking water supply market, with devices that precisely established the prohibition of contracts without bidding between municipalities and state sanitation companies.

The legislation boosted private investment in the sector. Report by People’s Gazette showed that, by April 2022, 16 auctions had been held covering 217 municipalities, reaching 20 million people. The contracts provide for investments of BRL 46.7 billion, in addition to the payment of BRL 29.5 billion in grants.

Members of the opposition, Deputy Ricardo Salles (PL-SP) announced that he will present next Monday (10) a draft legislative decree with the aim of annulling Lula’s text. In an interview with Jovem Pan radio, Salles called the measure “shameful” because it would serve only political interests.

“We are going to enter, on Monday, with a draft legislative decree to overturn this decree by President Lula, which is a shameful measure: it goes against the environment, it goes against people’s health, it goes against the logic of administrative efficiency. ”, said the former Minister of the Environment in the government of Jair Bolsonaro (PL).