Lula’s leader aligns himself with Lira in an impasse over MPs – 03/27/2023 – Politics

Leader of the Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) government in the Chamber, deputy José Guimarães (PT-CE) argues that the procedure for processing MPs (provisional measures) established in the Covid-19 pandemic be maintained —that is, that the matters are voted directly in plenary, without going through analysis of the joint committees.

“For those who govern, the best rite was the pandemic. I have an opinion and I have already said it to the government, to the [líder do governo no Senado, Jaques] Wagner, for the [ministro das Relações Institucionais, Alexandre] Padilha: the current rite is the best”, said Guimarães in an interview with Sheet.

He claims that he defended his position to Lula himself, but points out that the government “cannot impose anything” on presidents Arthur Lira (Chamber) and Rodrigo Pacheco (Senate). And he adds: “We are not going to confront Lira, nor are we going to confront Pacheco”.

With the impasse over the MPs, the Lula government’s agenda in Congress has been stuck for more than 50 days, since the PT used the mechanism to create and resume programs such as Minha Casa, Minha Vida, in addition to strategic changes in the structure from the government.

Guimarães’ statements were given amid a crisis between Lira (PP-AL) and Pacheco (PSD-MG) about how MPs should be analyzed.

The impasse took on greater proportions on Thursday (23) with the Senate’s decision to return to the joint committees. In response, Lira said that the matter will not go “one millimeter” in the Chamber, raised the tone by questioning Pacheco’s leadership in the Senate and suggested a session of Congress to resolve the issue.

Provisional measures are edited by the President of the Republic and come into effect immediately, but depend on congressional approval in order not to lose validity. House and Senate have up to 120 days to approve or reverse the government’s initiative.

The Constitution determines that MPs must be analyzed initially by a mixed commission; and internal resolutions in Congress define that the collegiate must have 12 deputies and 12 senators.

At the beginning of the pandemic, however, the rite was changed to speed up the analysis of provisional measures and avoid crowds at committee meetings.

In a joint act by the Boards of Directors of the two Houses, it was decided that, during the public health emergency, the mixed commissions would be uninstalled and the MPs would go to a direct vote in the plenary of the Chamber. Arthur Lira and the deputies want to maintain this model, which, in practice, gives more power to the House.

Guimarães also says that he works with the expectation that an agreement will be sealed so that, after Easter, the MPs presented by Lula will begin to be guided.

However, the parliamentarian does not answer on what terms this solution will occur; it says only that “there is little left” for an understanding. “In the end, common sense must prevail. There must be a strong dialogue with the two presidents in the search for an understanding that preserves the prerogatives of the two Houses. I do not think this crisis is good for the country.”

“Lira and Pacheco are the ones who have to resolve the scolding, it’s not us. We’re talking, helping, showing the ways”, he continues.

Centrão leaders have used the impasse over the rite of provisional measures in Congress to reinforce the message to the Planalto of dissatisfaction with the government’s political articulation. One of the main complaints is about the lack of prospects for the start of releasing this year’s amendments.

Government officials reported to the Sheet that Planalto’s strategy is to release, as of this week, the payment of 2022 parliamentary amendments that have not yet been executed, a resource known as remains to be paid.

This year’s amendments or resources arising from a political agreement between Congress and the government, however, should be released close to important votes for the Executive.

“We are going to release [as emendas] under normal conditions of temperature and pressure. You don’t need to say how we’re going to do it. There is a budget, it is transparent. The deputy has leftovers to pay. We know who they are. And the government will do it because it is a right”, says Guimarães.

When asked about statements by the leader of União Brasil, deputy Elmar Nascimento (BA), that the party will not be the base of the Lula government, despite having three ministers appointed, Guimarães minimizes and says he bets that the party “will come to the government” .

In an interview with Sheet, Elmar also said that Planalto should speed up the distribution of parliamentary amendments. About this, Guimarães minimizes: “It’s natural, [os deputados] they complain, it doesn’t hurt anyone, no. Sometimes it is even a wake-up call for those of us who govern. It’s part of the game”.

The leader of the Lula government, however, says that the parties that make up the Esplanada need to understand that there are costs and benefits in allying with the Executive. He also indicates that the government does not rule out carrying out a ministerial reform if the base parties do not deliver the votes.

“I’ve been talking a lot with Elmar Nascimento, with all the leaders here (…) They want to participate in the government. It is a process that is still under construction”, he adds.

Guimarães also defends the actions of the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad (PT). He says that the minister has the support of the Chamber and that the PT has established a “very virtuous path” with Lira when it comes to the new fiscal framework.

“There will be people who will take a stand against it, complain about this or that. There are people in the PT who will be against it, well, I don’t know who, but the fact is that whoever speaks, directs and commands for the government, when the government to define, is Minister Haddad. That is what is agreed in the Chamber.”

He also criticizes the president of the Central Bank, Roberto Campos Neto, even without naming him; and claims that “no one can find natural” the current interest rate. For Guimarães, the financial institution “is not bigger than the country or the result of the polls”.

“You need to have a minimal harmony. The so-called autonomy of the Central Bank does not give the monetary authority the right to think looking upwards. You have to think about the country, the economic situation, the minister’s effort. I have never seen an Economy Minister make so much effort to solve the country’s inspector like Haddad”, he says.