Voting on tax reform will test Bolsonaro’s influence in the PL

The vote on the tax reform in the Chamber of Deputies will be a test of the influence of former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) among right-wing parliamentarians. Ineligible by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), the former representative articulates with the Liberal Party bench to bar the proposal already in the first round vote, scheduled for the night of this Thursday (6).

Bolsonaro met with the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas (Republicans), and PL parliamentarians in a tense meeting, this Thursday morning. The former president’s direction is for the party to vote against the reform, but the former Minister of Infrastructure argues that the right should take a stand in favor of the tax reform.

In the corridors of the green hall, the expectation is that the PL bench, of 99 deputies, will vote massively against the proposal. However, there is still no understanding if the party will close the question on the subject and guide a contrary vote. A PL source who spoke with the People’s Gazette, however, added that the acronym will only close the issue if the proposal is voted on today. So far, there is no clear direction for the team commanded by Valdemar Costa Neto.

Before attending the meeting with Bolsonaro, the leader of the party in the Chamber, deputy Altineu Cortês (RJ), said that the former president will set the “tone” on the vote. On Twitter, Bolsonaro defended the overthrow of the project and recalled the votes in which the PT was against, with emphasis on the economic agenda.

“The PT does not defend the poorest (in the Chamber they voted against the payment of precatorios, almost making the Bolsa-Família pass to R$ 600.00 unfeasible)”, said the former president. And he added: “When we eliminated taxes on gasoline, diesel, alcohol and gas, the PT voted against it in the Senate”.

The president’s posture corroborates the position he assumed in the party after returning to Brazil. The expectation of the PL is to use the capital of the former president’s politician to improve the performance of the party and allies in the 2024 municipal elections. According to party members, the acronym aims to elect between 1,000 and 1,500 mayors.

Tarcísio defends reform and is hit by Bolsonaro

The meeting between Bolsonaro and Tarcísio highlighted tensions during the internal discussions in the PL on the reform. On Wednesday, the governor of São Paulo generated discontent among members of the PL by saying that he agreed with 95% of the tax reform proposal.

At this Thursday’s meeting, Tarcísio’s goal was to sensitize the leader and party members about the text, a move that was also made by the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira (PP-AL). He said the right should discuss the proposal.

“We cannot lose the narrative. The right cannot lose the narrative of being favorable to the tax reform. Otherwise, it ends up being approved, and who approved it?” , said Tarcisio.

The declaration had no effect and generated hostility from the participants. Bolsonaro tried to appease the discussion, saying that the governor “has no political experience”.

PL parliamentarians are contemplated with amendments before the vote

While Bolsonaro articulates the rejection of the proposal presented by the rapporteur Aguinaldo Ribeiro (PP-PB), the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) uses the tools it has available to try to convince them to vote in favor of the proposal.

Between Tuesday and Wednesday, the government released R$7.4 billion in parliamentary amendments – R$6 billion in individual amendments. This money goes to works and services indicated by parliamentarians in their electoral strongholds.

Only on Wednesday (5) were R$ 5.3 billion, a record amount for a single day. Government organizers believe that this may contribute to attracting more votes in favor of the tax reform and other government economic agendas, such as the new fiscal framework, which will replace the spending ceiling, and the vote on the Carf quality vote bill, which gives the Union the last word in cases of tie in the judgment of tax disputes.

Of the amount released only on Wednesday, the PL received R$ 700 million. Counting on what had already been released since the beginning of the month, the PL parliamentarians saw their amendments contemplated with R$ 850 million.

The PP, Arthur Lira’s party, the main organizer of the reform in the Chamber, was the party most awarded with the commitment of funds for amendments: R$961.6 million in the first five days of July.