Bolsonaro releases BRL 2.5 billion from the federal government for transfers to bus companies

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President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) published an MP (Provisional Measure) this Thursday (25) to release extraordinary credit of R$ 2.5 billion for transfers to bus companies with the justification of paying for free public transport for the elderly. above 65 years.

The funds will be sent to states and municipalities to help local transport companies. The measure was possible after the approval of a constitutional amendment that overturns the laws that deal with elections and public accounts to allow the government to boost social benefits on the eve of the race for the Planalto Palace.

Thanks to the enacted text, the amount of BRL 2.5 billion will be outside the spending ceiling (which prevents real growth in federal expenditures) and the fiscal target account (result of revenues minus expenses to be pursued by the government in the year) .

In early August, the consumer protection NGO Idec sent a statement to the Ministries of Regional Development and Economy asking bus concessionaires to account for the resources transferred through the PEC (Proposed Amendment to the Constitution) of social benefits.

Idec requested that companies be required to provide a document proving the operation of the service, the general cost of the system and an estimate of the total deficit generated in the pandemic. The request also said that municipalities must show how and with what the resource was used, in addition to the impact on public transport for users.

In addition to endorsing the transfer of funds to pay for free access to the elderly in municipal and intercity public transport in metropolitan regions, the PEC authorized six other measures.

Among them, the expansion of Auxílio Brasil from R$400 to R$600 by the end of the year (with the inclusion of families on the waiting list), doubling of Auxílio Gás to R$110 and the creation of a voucher of R$ 1,000 for truck drivers.

In addition, the text provides for aid for taxi drivers, subsidies for ethanol and reinforcement of funds in the food acquisition and donation program. The total cost of the PEC is estimated at R$ 41.25 billion – a value higher than the R$ 38.75 billion originally agreed.

The release of boosted social benefits has the potential to boost the popularity of Bolsonaro, who appears in second place in electoral polls, behind in the dispute with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).

According to the latest Datafolha, published in August, the former president has 47% of the votes, compared to 32% for the current holder of the Planalto.

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