The commitment of R$8.3 billion means that the government reserved this amount to pay for amendments from deputies and senators. The expectation is that the resources will be effectively disbursed by June, which allows the funds to be used by parliamentarians’ allies in the municipal election campaign.
95.2% of the budget goes to health, that is, R$7.9 billion. The minister of the portfolio, Nísia Trindade, is heavily criticized by parliamentarians for holding back amendments.
Lira x Padilha. The release of the amendments represents a victory for the president of the Chamber, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), over his personal rival Alexandre Padilha. Report from UOL showed that the Minister of Institutional Relations controls the Health budget. Six of the eight departments of the Ministry of Health are influenced by him. But Lira dominates the center and, therefore, where does this released money go now.
Lira’s new attitude. Coincidence or not, the billion-dollar commitment to amendments occurs at a time when there is a change in Lira’s behavior. Last week, the president of the Chamber put forward an agenda contrary to the government in Congress: PEC on Drugs, criminalization of the MST and overturning Lula’s veto on the prisoner “outside” project.
This week, the same week in which the amendments were committed, Lira once again gave more importance to tax reform, which is of interest to the government. The Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad (PT), participated in a meeting with party leaders and it was agreed that the economic agenda will be prioritized.
There was also political affection for Lira. He was received by Lula for a conversation on Sunday. Dialogue directly with Lula is one of the president of the Chamber’s demands. Haddad personally delivered the text and praised the man from Alagoas for delivering the tax reform regulations.
Tags: Government releases billions amendments fails calm center
