Representatives of the National Front of Mayors (FNP) met with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, this Monday afternoon (6), at the Planalto Palace, in Brasília, and asked to participate in the debate on tax reform. The issue is one of the main items on the federal government’s economic agenda in the current mandate.
“It is very important that Brazil carry out its tax reform, but that the municipalities are not isolated [da discussão]. It is essential that the ISS [imposto municipal] be maintained”, said the president of the FNP and mayor of Aracaju, Edvaldo Nogueira.
He charged that the mayors have a “decisive” participation in the construction of the proposals. The FNP brings together managers from all capitals and municipalities with more than 80,000 inhabitants. In addition to Nogueira, the mayors Bruno Reis (Salvador), Cinthia Ribeiro (Palmas) and Edmilson Rodrigues (Belém) participated in the meeting.
Public transportation
Another item discussed during the meeting was the advancement of the bill that creates the National Assistance Program for the Mobility of the Elderly in Urban Areas (Pnami). The measure ensures the contribution of federal resources to subsidize the free tariff for people over 65 years old.
“We want to discuss that this project that is in the National Congress is being processed and may have a subsidy from the federal government. It is the federal government that is responsible for the gratuity of the elderly, because it is a federal law”, emphasized the president of the FNP. According to Edvaldo Nogueira, the municipalities are currently experiencing an impasse because the number of passengers in transport on tires has been decreasing and the number of users no longer remunerates the cost of the service.
“All mayors in Brazil are making subsidies. Either zero the ISS or make direct subsidies. All of us [prefeitos] we are putting in subsidies and the mayors can’t take it anymore and, at the same time, we can’t increase the ticket anymore. We need to resolve this impasse, which will be resolved with a federal subsidy”, added the mayor of Aracaju. The proposal has already passed through the Federal Senate and is currently being discussed in the Chamber of Deputies.
According to the mayors, Lula appointed Minister Alexandre Padilha, of Institutional Relations, to maintain dialogue with municipal managers, including the systematization of the main strategic projects of cities that can count on support from the federal government.
federative governance
Also during the meeting, the FNP presented the proposal for the creation of a federative governance council, made up equally of six representatives of the federal government, state governments and municipalities, with the aim of discussing the main projects in the country.
“We will be able to reunify the country as the three federal entities can meet together and find solutions. Brazil needs solutions”, said Edvaldo Nogueira.
Lula should participate, next week, in the FNP’s national meeting, to be held in Brasília. A new meeting of the president with the mayors is also scheduled for the coming months.
