Lira criticizes the judicialization of decisions by the National Congress

The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), criticized this Saturday (27/4) the judicialization of issues decided by the Legislative Branch. He argued that it is necessary to “raise the bar” on who can file Direct Actions of Unconstitutionality (ADIs) with the Federal Supreme Court (STF), and return to discussing issues in the political field, not in the Judiciary.

The mechanism was used, for example, to block the time frame for the demarcation of indigenous lands and — more recently — to suspend payroll tax relief for companies and municipalities, following action filed by the federal government this week. Lira echoes the president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), who also questioned the Executive’s actions.

“There is always a legal discussion in Brazil. The discussions never end, because the STF receives demands every day, from all sectors”, said Lira at the official opening of the 89th ExpoZebu, which takes place this weekend in Uberaba, Minas Gerais.

“And we have a cancer in Brazil called Direct Action of Unconstitutionality proposed by any entity, any person or any political party in Brazil with a representative in the National Congress”, added the deputy.

In addition to Lira, ministers Carlos Fávaro (Agriculture and Livestock) and Alexandre Silveira (Mines and Energy) also participated in the event, as well as governors Elmano de Freitas (CE), Romeu Zema (MG) and Ronaldo Caiado (GO). The president of the Parliamentary Front for Agriculture (FPA), deputy Pedro Lupion (PP-PR), and senator Tereza Cristina (PP-MS), former minister of Agriculture, among other authorities and agricultural representatives, also participated.

“What’s the point of a project with 400 votes in the Chamber Plenary, and a parliamentarian enters with the ADI, and a minister [do STF] give an injunction? We, parliamentarians, have to have the courage to face this issue and raise the bar on who can propose ADI in the country, so that fewer issues are judicialized and more issues can be discussed politically”, said Arthur Lira.

Shaken relationship

The speeches take place in the midst of a new crisis involving the Powers. On Thursday (25), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and the Attorney General of the Union (AGU), Jorge Messias, filed an ADI with the Supreme Court to suspend the payroll tax exemption, which was accepted by the minister of STF Cristiano Zanin. The decision displeased Rodrigo Pacheco, who called an emergency meeting yesterday (26) and also criticized the government for judicializing Legislative decisions.

Lira also comes, in recent weeks, from a clash with the Federal Executive. He signaled to allies and opposition parliamentarians that he could open Parliamentary Commissions of Inquiry (CPIs) with topics that would bother the government and set up bombshells. He accuses the federal administration of trying to interfere in agendas that concern the Legislature.

The advancement of the bill that prevents “convicts of invasion of urban or rural property” from accessing social benefits, which targets the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST), was also interpreted as retaliation. The text was approved by the Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ) this week after Lira drafted and approved an urgent request.

The president of the Chamber, however, refuted the statements that he was acting against the government and that the anti-MST measure would be a response to the Executive. “It is not a reprisal. It is not an act against, directly, but a legal obligation that if you invade another’s rights there must be a penalty. And, the very next week, the narrative came that President Arthur had the knife on the neck of the federal government. It was a bombshell. Defending the right in Brazil is difficult.