Feb 26 • 02:00 UTC 🇧🇷 Brazil Folha (PT)

Centrão wants to avoid voting on a project that regulates additional payments if the government does not get involved in the debate

Centrão is seeking to postpone the discussion in Congress on regulating extra payments and inflated salaries, conditioning any debate on the direct involvement of President Lula's government.

The Centrão coalition is deliberately avoiding discussions in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies regarding the regulation of additional payments and excessive salaries within public service workers. They have expressed that any debate on this sensitive topic, especially in an election year, should only occur with the active participation of President Lula's government. This stance is in the wake of the Supreme Federal Court's recent decision that suspended such benefits that are not legally sanctioned, urging Congress to establish clear regulations on the matter.

Leaders within the Centrão have indicated that managing this contentious issue alone is unfeasible due to the significant public resistance it faces. They propose that concrete actions on this subject are best addressed after the 2027 administrative reform, as they believe this timeframe would allow for a more comprehensive discussion. The sentiment reflects concerns about electoral backlash, suggesting that tackling such topics could be politically detrimental during an election cycle.

Moreover, some sources note that the speaker of the House, Hugo Motta from the Republicans, shares this viewpoint among the Centrão leaders. They emphasize that the only viable path towards having a discussion prior to the elections is through direct involvement from the Lula administration, thereby sharing the responsibility with the presidency and alleviating potential repercussions that may arise from public dissent against the regulation of these controversial salary practices.

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