#Hashtag: Approval of the PEC Kamikaze generates criticism on the networks

The approval of the PEC Kamikaze, which institutes a state of emergency in Brazil and releases R$ 41.25 billion for social programs, generated reactions on the networks this Thursday (30).

Approved in a vote in the Senate, the measure allows President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) to pierce the spending ceiling, an instrument that limits the total expenditure of the federal government, and opens public coffers less than three months before the elections.

According to the government, the PEC aims to mitigate the effects of the Ukrainian War — which began in February — on fuel prices.

Even before it was instituted on this Thursday, users already made a chorus of criticism of the measure and the Bolsonaro government. The hashtags “#PAC16NAO”, “#PECDOGOLPE” and “#PEC DO DESESPERO” were among the most commented on Twitter during the day.

Many internet users pointed out the electoral nature of the proposal, since the state of emergency decree included in the PEC prevents the payment of benefits made by the president from being read as a violation of electoral rules.

According to the legislation, the implementation of new benefits in the year of the elections is prohibited. The only exceptions are programs that are already running or when there is a public calamity or, precisely, a state of emergency.

Bolsonaro seeks to improve his performance in the presidential race a few weeks before the official start of the campaign. He appears in second place in polls of voting intentions, behind former president Lula (PT).

Some also characterize the instrument as a “fiscal atomic bomb” and speculate on the possible consequences for the country’s economy.

The PEC had strong support from opposition senators, both linked to former president Lula and to third-way pre-candidate Simone Tebet (MDB-MS). In the networks, users criticized the position of parliamentarians and demanded explanations.