Brazil Politics: Congress Seeks Deal to Enact Precatorios Bill

(Bloomberg) -- After a series of delays and changes to the text, Brazil’s Senate approved the court-ordered payment bill, the so-called Precatorios Bill, that loosens the country’s fiscal austerity law, making room in the budget for the new social program that President Jair Bolsonaro is launching ahead of his re-election campaign next year.

Changes were introduced by senators, so the bill will have to return to the lower house, where lawmakers who have already passed it will analyze its latest version. The bill needs their approval again to become law.

Read more: Brazil’s Senate Approves Bill That Eases Government Fiscal Rules

Lower House speaker Arthur Lira, who met with Senate president Rodrigo Pacheco, said there will be maximum effort among the two houses to get a common text enacted as quickly as possible. What is not agreed upon goes back to committees in the lower house next year, Lira told reporters.

Economy Minister Paulo Guedes backed the measure and said that there is no lack of fiscal control in Brazil. According to him, the bill was a lesser harm than other alternatives raised.

2022 Elections

Former judge Sergio Moro sought out the former Supreme Court justice Joaquim Barbosa to talk about the 2022 elections, says O Globo. Moro’s party Podemos mulls Barbosa as vice president or running for the Senate next year. The possible alliance between the former Sao Paulo governor Geraldo Alckmin, who is leaving the PSDB party, and the former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has displeased some sectors of the Brazilian left wing, such as the PSOL party, according to another report by the newspaper.

Omicron in Brazil

Brazil’s Federal District confirms two cases of the omicron variant, newspaper Folha de S. Paulo reports, citing officials. The country has so far confirmed 5 omicron cases. Sao Paulo state will continue to require people to wear masks outdoors, as advised by its scientific committee, Governor Joao Doria says on Twitter. The city also decided to cancel its traditional New Year’s Eve party, Folha de S.Paulo reports.

Rio de Janeiro city expands proof of vaccination requirements to more services and establishments as of today, according to a note published by city hall.

Coronavirus

Brazil reported a total of 22,118,782 Covid-19 cases, with 12,910 confirmed in the last 24 hours, according to health ministry data. Country’s coronavirus death toll rose by 215 in the last 24 hours to 615,179.

States and the Federal District administered 313,847,280 shots against Covid-19, of which 140,294,099 correspond to 2nd doses or single dose vaccines, according to the latest data available disclosed by the 27 local governments.

Other highlights

• Supreme Court gives green light to maintain new legal framework for sanitation: Estado

Newspaper Top Stories

• O Estado de S. Paulo
  • With agribusiness at a low, GDP falls and Brazil enters technical recession
• Folha de S.Paulo
  • GDP slips again and indicates long stagnation for 2022
• O Globo
  • Rising inflation inhibits consumption and slows GDP
• Valor Economico
  • GDP drops 0.1% in the 3rd quarter and reinforces stagnation

Original Story:

Congresso busca texto comum para promulgar PEC: Radar Político

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