Lira interrupts vacation to meet with leaders this Monday

The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), decided to bring forward the end of the holidays and scheduled a meeting with party leaders for this Monday (29). Although the parliamentary recess runs until February 5th, he would have returned this Sunday (28th) to Brasília. The decision was taken due to the urgency in discussing issues that have generated tension in the relationship between parliamentarians and other Powers of the Republic, according to “G1”.

On the agenda of this Monday’s meeting, according to the vehicle, would be, for example, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s (PT) blocking part of the parliamentary amendments in the 2024 Budget; the provisional measure (MP) to reinstate the payroll of certain sectors of the economy; and the recent operations by the Federal Police (PF) authorized by the Federal Supreme Court (STF) against federal deputies.

The decision by the Chief Executive to cut R$5.6 billion in commission amendments was not well digested by the deputies, who consider the measure a breach of agreement with Congress. With the cut, the value for this expense was reduced from R$16.6 billion to R$11 billion.

Last Tuesday (23), in an interview with Rádio Metrópole, in Bahia, Lula said that he “will have the greatest pleasure” in explaining to the leaders the reasons for the veto.

“On the issue of amendments, it is important for us to remember that the former president [Jair Bolsonaro] there was no governance in this country. The National Congress governed. He didn’t even have the ability to discuss the budget, because he didn’t want to, or because it wasn’t part of his logic. And we decided to reestablish a democratic relationship with the National Congress,” he declared.

The issue of MP 1,202, on December 28th of last year, is also seen by parliamentarians as a breach of agreement. The text provides for a gradual reinstatement of sectors that have benefited since 2011 from a discount on employer social security contributions.

The exemption was extended in a vote by the plenary of both legislative Houses. The text returned to Congress for consideration after being vetoed by Lula, and the veto was overturned, confirming the parliamentarians’ intention.

Last week, the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, said, in an interview with the Roda Viva program, on TV Cultura, that the matter would be discussed with Lira and the president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG).

“We will sit down with the leaders and discuss this freely and transparently, based on academic studies, with the opinion of experts. These are privileges that need to be reviewed. What is the best way to do this is up to Congress,” he said.

The PF operations against federal deputies Alexandre Ramagem (PL-RJ), suspected of illegally monitoring public authorities and political opponents during his term as head of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin), and Carlos Jordy (PL-RJ) also caused discomfort among congressmen. ), who, according to the police investigation, was involved in preparatory actions for the acts of January 8, 2023.