Ciro Nogueira says there may be a calamity decree depending on the situation in the country

The Minister of the Civil House, Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI), stated that the federal government may declare a state of public calamity “depending on the situation in the country”.

The head of the main portfolio of the administration of President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) did not rule out using the instrument, but said he believed that it is currently not necessary.

“The population is suffering today. I don’t see the need for this state of calamity currently, but if it comes to a point of a situation like this, we will have to enact it. But I hope this is not necessary,” he said.

The statement was given to CNN Brasil. In the excerpt of the interview that has already been broadcast this Thursday (2), however, Nogueira does not detail what would be the “situation of the country” that could give rise to the declaration of the calamity.

As shown by Sheeta wing of the government has defended that the measure be adopted so that the Executive has more security to open extraordinary credits, which allows the use of resources outside the spending ceiling (rule that prevents the growth of expenses above inflation).

The measure would be adopted four months before the election and would have the objective of funding measures to subsidize prices or pay aid to truck drivers, delivery people and app drivers.

Among the justifications used by those who defend the use of the instrument are the Ukrainian War and an alleged risk of diesel shortages.

Defenders of the calamity claim that the mechanism, provided for in the Constitution and also in the LRF (Fiscal Responsibility Law), removes the formal requirements of urgency and unpredictability for opening extraordinary credit.

The calamity could also eventually be used to circumvent electoral restrictions, which are now a major concern of the government when adopting measures.

The last time a national public calamity decree was passed by Congress was in March 2020, during the Covid-19 crisis. The exceptional situation lasted until the end of that year and was not restored even the following year, when the pandemic worsened and reached its peak in the country.

Readjustment of servers can stay for 2023, says minister

In the interview, the minister also stated that the Executive has faced difficulties in achieving a 5% readjustment for public servants.

“Unfortunately it is very difficult for us to give the increase, the remuneration that servers need today. But it is an agenda that the president is permanently looking for alternatives to help with the salary of our civil servants”, he said.

Last week, Bolsonaro said that the “trend” would be to raise all federal civil servants. The statement represented a setback in relation to the initial idea expressed by the Chief Executive of giving a higher readjustment to police officers.

Nogueira stated that the increase could be extended to 2023. “He wants to give an increase. I hope this will happen, even a very significant increase starting next year. But this year we have great difficulties, we have to make cuts that are hurting.” a lot in government, in important areas”.

The minister stated that the idea of ​​increasing the value of food stamps for civil servants instead of granting a readjustment has also encountered legal obstacles.

“Has [estudo sobre isso], but there is great legal doubt as to whether the federal government, due to electoral legislation, can grant this increase. If the electoral legislation allowed it, I’m sure the president would have done it already,” he said.

This Thursday (2), in a conversation with supporters published on social media, President Jair Bolsonaro spoke about the price of fuel and criticized the ICMS charged in Rio de Janeiro, which is governed by his ally, Cláudio Castro (PL).

“Is anyone from Rio here? Do you know how much ICMS pays per liter of gasoline: R$ 2.30 in state tax. Is that reasonable?” he said.