President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticized on Thursday (18) the approval, by the House of Representatives, of the proposal of amendment to the Constitution (PEC) that makes the progress of criminal proceedings against deputies and senators, including even the execution of arrest warrants. The text has been called the armor PEC or, in the most formal term used by the supporters, of PEC of prerogatives.
The PEC passed in the plenary of the House on Tuesday night (16)and had a vote completed on Wednesday (17), with the reincclusion of the secret vote to authorize the opening of lawsuits to investigate congressmen.
“The vote yesterday at the National Congress of Prerogative, ensuring immunity of the way that was guaranteed even for party president, is not a serious thing. We have to guarantee life prerogative to the Brazilian people, work prerogative, prerogative of education. This is what we need, is to give a lesson in this country, that the political class today, starting from me, can, if you want, to make the youth, to make another country. Possible to be built, “Lula said at a new PAC works event at the Planalto Palace.
What can change
The Armage PEC states that deputies and senators can only be prosecuted criminally if the House or Senate authorize the opening of criminal action in the Supreme Court (STF) within 90 days after the filing of any type of crime.
Cases of arrest in the act for unenforceable crimes, such as homicide and rape, also need authorization from the parliamentarian’s house within 24 hours, also by secret vote. The same benefits, according to the approved text, will extend to state and district parliamentarians.
The proposal also grants a special forum in the Federal Supreme Court (STF) to presidents of parties with seat in the National Congress. From the current rules, it only has access to the forum by the prerogative of function in the Supreme Court the President of the Republic, the vice-president, deputies, senators, ministers of state, members of the Superior Courts, the Federal Court of Audit (TCU) and ambassadors.
In the House, the text was supported by the PL, the main opposition party, and by Centrão subtitles. But it also obtained support from government parliamentarians. The Workers Party (PT) bench advised opposite vote, but 12 subtitle deputies voted in favor in the first round. There was also support for PEC between deputies of parties such as PSB, PSD and PDT. In addition, governing benches, such as government leaders and most, released their votes in plenary.
Resistance and Protests
Submitted to the Senate, however, the armor PEC must face strong resistance. The President of the Review House, Senator Davi Alcolumbre (Union-AP), dispatched the text for analysis in the Constitution and Justice Commission (CJJ), in an unhurried analysis. The board is chaired by Senator Otto Alencar (PSD-BA), who proved to be totally contrary to the text. Other leaders in the Senate, including parties such as PL, PSD and PT also signaled that the proposal should not prosper.
Meanwhile, political leaders and social movements are calling acts in various capitals of the country to protest against the PEC and also against the bill (PL) that aims to grant amnesty to the scammers involved in the acts of January 8, 2023, to give a coup in the country. The amnesty project also advanced in the House, with the approval of the urgency and definition of a rapporteur who will seek a text of greater consensus.
