Lula government releases R$1.2 billion in parliamentary amendments in May

In search of support from deputies and senators of Congress for the approval of projects considered important for the government, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) ordered the release of R$ 1.28 billion in parliamentary amendments in just the first ten days of May. The amount is three times greater than that granted between January and April. In total, BRL 1.6 billion were invested in parliamentary amendments in 2023, according to data from the Senate’s Siga Brasil Amendment Panel.

Individual amendments by deputies and senators cover almost all of May’s resources (98%), adding up to R$ 1.26 billion, while amendments by state caucuses and commissions totaled R$ 17 million. See how much has already been released from parliamentary amendments in 2023, per month and the total for the period:

• January – 0
• February – BRL 37.5 million
• March – BRL 212.6 million
• April – BRL 97.3 million
• May – BRL 1.2 billion
• Full year 2023 – approximately BRL 1.63 billion

The government’s effort is to avoid new defeats in Congress at a time when projects such as the new fiscal framework and tax reform will need the support of parliamentarians. The lack of a solid government base is noted mainly in the Chamber of Deputies, where the government has recently suffered defeats, with the approval of a project that modifies Lula’s decree on the sanitation framework and the postponement of the vote on the Fake bill News, also known as PL da Censura (PL 2.630/2020).

In the vote on the draft legislative decree that aims to reverse Lula’s changes to the sanitation framework (PDL 98/2023), PSD, MDB and União Brasil, who head ministries in the Lula government, voted overwhelmingly for approval. Only eight voted with the government (seven from the PSD, one from the MDB and none from the Union).

The release of funds for parliamentary amendments also occurs at a time of government concern with the CPMI of the January 8 acts and the CPI of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST), about to start work.

Throughout this week, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Minister of Institutional Relations Alexandre Padilha are meeting with leaders and leaders of parties from the allied base to ensure support in the polls. The PSD and the PSB were, this Wednesday (10), the first called to settle the negotiation.

Next week, it will be the turn of the MDB and União Brasil which, although they have positions and ministries in the government, are still not fully committed to the allied base.

Parliamentarians from these parties are among those who have received the most funds in recent days. See the 15 most benefited parliamentarians: