After a month of discussions within the government, the spending cut package is ready to be announced, said this Monday (25) the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad. According to him, the exact date depends on a conversation between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the presidents of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira, and the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco.
“[O anúncio do pacote] It is now depending on the Palácio do Planalto contacting the Senate and the Chamber. We have to see if the presidents are there, if they are available, but anyway, we are ready. Everything is already written. The Civil House sends the shipment [da redação final dos textos] to send for sure [ao Congresso] this week. Now, the day, the time, will depend more on Congress than on us”, said Haddad upon leaving the ministry.
Although military pensions, an item that will be included in the package, will be defined by ordinary law, the minister highlighted that the government will send a proposed amendment to the Constitution (PEC) and a complementary bill to Congress. “The idea is to send as few proposals as possible”, he explained.
Although it does not foresee the sending of bills, the package will take advantage of texts currently being processed in Congress. The changes to Vale Gás will be included as a substitute in the bill that has been in progress in Congress since August. The limitation on super salaries will be included in the complementary bill.
Regarding the PEC, Haddad said that the government can piggyback and include the spending cut package in the proposal that extends the Untying of Union Revenues (DRU), a mechanism that unlinks up to 30% of expenditures stamped for any purpose. This is because the DRU loses validity at the end of the year and needs to be approved in 2024.
“The intention is to approve it by the end of the year for the following reason: there is at least one PEC, but perhaps one more that should be voted on this year. For example, DRU approval. Perhaps we will take advantage of this PEC to, depending on the judgment of congressmen, include, if they agree, what was a constitutional matter [do pacote de corte de gastos]”, added Haddad.
Haddad and the future president of the Central Bank, Gabriel Galípolo, met with Lula in the morning and afternoon at Palácio do Planalto. According to Haddad, the ministers responsible for the portfolios affected by the package were also present and agreed with the measures. At around 4pm, Haddad arrived at the Ministry of Finance accompanied by Galípolo, who left the building through the garage after around 40 minutes.
