Opinion – Marcos Mendes: Corrosion of democracy is exposed in the vote of the PEC of Precatório

For some years, the weakening of democracy, in Brazil and in the world, has been discussed through censorship, manipulation of electoral rules, State violence or the weakening of the Judiciary. In Brazil, a strong channel seems to be the use of the public budget.

The circumstances in which the so-called PEC dos Precatório was approved on the night of November 3rd are eloquent. It was about making room in the budget to spend more on: parliamentary amendments, campaign financing, tax benefits for large companies, increase in the Judiciary and Legislative budget. It will be at least R$30 billion. “A hell of a party!”, as a formerly jealous minister of fiscal responsibility would say.

The political motto was to allow an increase in the transfer of income to the poorest. Excuse me: there were cheaper and more efficient ways to give to the poor without including the rich in the party.

Piloting nearly R$17 billion of amendments by the 2021 budget rapporteur, which he distributes according to his own secret criteria, the president of the Chamber had the clout to induce parliamentarians to vote in favor of the PEC. The model feeds back: the 2021 splices are used to secure space for the 2022 splices.

These amendments weaken parliament and party debate. They individually strengthen the presidents of the Chamber and the Senate, and the parliamentarians who, instead of discussing issues of national interest, make policy based on funds.

With resources to spend in their strongholds, added to a campaign finance fund that could exceed R$5 billion, they have a significant advantage over incumbent candidates. The reelection rate tends to rise. An essential source of the vigor of a democracy is killed: the renewal of representation.

Parties that intend to launch candidates for the Presidency of the Republic voted in favor of the fiscal implosion: 83% of the deputies of the PSD, 71% of the PSDB, 63% of the PDT, 50% of Podemos. We don’t know who the president of the Republic will be in 2023, but we know that his party’s bench will continue to be commanded by the force of amendments and campaign financing.

The PT, accompanied by its satellites, was massively opposed. Not because I believe in the virtues of fiscal stability, but because of electoral calculations. We know that, in power, he commanded a scheme similar to the amendments, through the monthly allowance.

In the past, it was scandalous, as were the cases of the budget dwarves, the leech and the petrolatum. There were consequences: impeachment, impeachment. Now it’s normal. Symptom of corroded democracy.

As if the strength of the money was not enough, it was also necessary to trample over the Internal Regulation of the Chamber, which did not allow the alteration of the text of a PEC approved without amendments by the Special Committee. There were unbelievable scenes, of presentation of amendments in the aftermath, in order to adjust the substitute to be voted on. Deputies on mission abroad were allowed to vote.

Strategically, the renewal of the payroll tax exemption was included in the political agreement. As I’ve written before in this space, a policy that increases the profit margin of beneficiary companies, generates few jobs and costs R$ 8 billion a year. By benefiting media companies, it may help to allay press criticism.

Also important is the increase in the spending limit for the Judiciary, Public Ministry and TCU. With more room for salaries, who knows, maybe they will be less emphatic in questioning the unconstitutionalities and arbitrariness that are repeated in Parliament?

Amendment-led voting power also tries to distort electoral rules to weaken the coordinating power of parties and increase the decision-making autonomy of each parliamentarian, leaving them more free to act under financial incentives. This was how, fortunately without success, the institution of the “district” and the abolition of the barrier clause and the prohibition of coalitions in proportional elections were sought. New attempts will come.

There is still tenuous resistance. Who knows, maybe she manifests in the second round of the PEC of the precatório?