Opposition in Congress wants to analyze Lula’s vetoes in the first week of March

Federal deputy Danilo Forte (União-CE) asked this Tuesday (20) that the president of Congress, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), schedule a joint session of the Legislature in the first week of March to analyze the vetoes of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) to the 2024 Budget. The parliamentarian was the rapporteur of this year’s Budget Guidelines Law (LDO).

In the request sent to Pacheco, Forte states that the president’s vetoes directly affect what was agreed in the LDO and could harm the execution of investments in priority areas, mainly because it is an election year. Brazilians go to the polls in October to elect mayors and councilors.

“We believe that vetoes affront and compromise advances in health care policies, especially for children and adolescents with disabilities, as well as the allocation of resources for education, the environment, urban infrastructure, improvements in rural areas, investments in works sanitation, distribution of water for human consumption, among many other policies discussed and awaited by the population, especially those most in need of State actions”, wrote Forte.

Also according to the deputy, the deadlines will be reduced this year due to the municipal election “considering the cycle of proposal presentation, analysis, commitment and release of resources destined for municipal public entities”. “The delay in considering the vetoes could compromise the execution of the budget due to the impediments during this period”, he added.

Among the points of dissatisfaction among parliamentarians with Lula is the veto of R$5.6 billion in amendments by the Senate, the Chamber and the Congress committee alleging “contrary to the public interest”.

The veto generated discussion and led the president himself to say that he would sit down with parliamentarians to explain the cut.

Behind the scenes, congressmen interviewed by the report stated that the government’s action soured the climate between the two powers. Being an election year, parliamentarians sought to increase amendments with the aim of boosting transfers to municipalities.