Arthur Lira defends proposal to limit actions in the Supreme Court

The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), wants to “raise the bar” regarding who can propose direct actions of unconstitutionality (ADI) in the Federal Supreme Court, including against parliamentary decisions. “We have parliamentarians who have the courage to face this issue”, he assured.

Lira’s speeches come from a speech given this Saturday morning (27), at the opening of the 89th ExpoZebu in Uberaba (MG), organized by the Brazilian Association of Zebu Breeders (ABCZ). The change in the ADI would require approval of a constitutional amendment, with the approval of three-fifths of the votes of deputies (308) and senators (49), in two rounds in each parliamentary house.

Direct unconstitutionality actions are provided for in the Federal Constitution (articles 102 and 103). According to the norm, the President of the Republic may request an ADI; the Federal Senate Bureau; the Board of the Chamber of Deputies; tables of legislative assemblies or the Legislative Chamber of the Federal District; state or Federal District governors; the Attorney General of the Republic; the Federal Council of the Brazilian Bar Association; political parties with representation in the National Congress; and national trade union confederations or class entities.

“What’s the point of a project with 400 votes in the Chamber plenary and a parliamentarian comes in with the ADI and a minister [do STF] Can you give an injunction?” asked the President of the Chamber, referring to the suspension of decisions taken in Congress. According to him, the STF receives these demands “every day from all sectors” and “discussions [jurídicas] never end.”

The president of the Chamber promised by the end of his term, in January 2025, to discuss new legislation on illegal deforestation and illegal mining in the country. “We know it exists and we close our eyes to avoid dealing with legislation. And the one who pays the bill abroad is the rural producer unduly.”

Tax reform

Lira plans to vote on the regulation of tax reform in his mandate. The proceedings in the Chamber of Deputies will not have a single rapporteur. “We are going to create working groups with deputies who have no interest in the areas that will be addressed so that we can streamline the 500 articles.”

Of the 513 deputies, 324 belong to the Agricultural Parliamentary Front, with members from the government and opposition bases. Arthur Lira promised that agribusiness, as well as health and education, will have “differentiated” treatment in the regulation of the new tax legislation.

In front of the ruralist audience, the president of the Chamber also criticized the demonstrations that took place in Red April, a traditional campaign for agrarian reform that this year promoted 24 occupations in 11 states. “This Red April mess, we have to discourage this from happening in Brazil. Legal security in the field is the only thing the producer needs to produce, whether in livestock or agriculture.”

Credit for producers

Also present at the 89th ExpoZebu, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Fávaro, announced the launch of a new line of credit for rural producers to convert pastures, with subsidized interest of less than 5% per year. The resources will be obtained through an agreement between Brazil and the Japanese government’s cooperation agency, Jica.

Fávaro also promised that the new Safra Plan will serve producers who have “flat income” at the moment. “President Lula told me that we cannot let producers who have difficulty, due to lack of price, income or bad weather, fall into default.

According to him, the “re-scheduling of investment debts” for all Brazilian producers has already been approved. “No producer will be left out if they are in need. Just file a document with your bank stating your technical inability to pay and it will be taken care of and we are vigilant about all of this.”

In addition to Fávaro and Lira, governors Elmano de Freitas (Ceará) were present at the opening of the exhibition; Ronaldo Caiado (Goiás) and Romeu Zema (Minas Gerais).