The National Congress approved today (11) the National Congressional Bill (PLN) No. 26/2021, which opens an extra credit of R$9.364 billion to be used this year in the payment of the Auxílio Brasil social program. The government intends to implement this program to replace the Bolsa Família, which was created in 2003. The resources, foreseen in the proposal of the Executive Branch, will be reallocated from the primary expenses of the Bolsa Família.
Among the approved projects, all related to extraordinary credits, deputies and senators also approved PLN 23/2021, which adapts the Pluriannual Plan (PPA) in force to the Brazilian Aid. The text foresees expenditures of R$ 76.4 billion, between 2021 and 2023, with the new assistance program.
For deputy Jorge Solla (PT-BA), PLN 26 shows that it is not necessary to approve a Proposal for Amendment to the Constitution (PEC) to enable Brazil Aid. “Actually, I needed these two PLNs that were approved here. They are the ones who will ensure the payment, within this year’s budget, of the Auxílio Brasil starting next week. They are the ones who made the difference”, said the deputy after the session, in an interview with TV Câmara.
Solla referred to the PEC 23/2021, the so-called PEC dos Precatório, which was approved in the Chamber this week. With the PEC approved, the government intends to parcel out the court orders and change the calculation of the spending ceiling, releasing R$ 91.5 billion for next year’s Budget.
The government’s claim is that the release of this amount will make Brazil Aid viable, opening fiscal space in the Union Budget for the payment of the new assistance benefit, which will have a monthly value of R$ 400. Precatório are debts of the Union resulting from court rulings which can no longer be appealed. Critics of the proposal dubbed it the “Calote PEC”.
The PLNs were approved at the National Congress session. Due to the new coronavirus pandemic, the National Congress session takes place separately. First, the deputies vote and, then, the projects go to vote in the Senate plenary.
Opposition deputies complained about the absence of presidential vetoes on the agenda for today’s session. By way of agreement, deputy Cláudio Cajado (PP-BA), deputy leader of the government in Congress, said that he will try together with the president of the Congress, senator Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), to hold the session next Thursday (18). During the session, opposition lawmakers will have the chance to overturn presidential vetoes on bills approved in Congress.
*With information from the news agency Câmara de Notícias
