Good morning! Is the pension reform doomed? Meanwhile, the VP pleads for “common sense.” To avoid a new strike, Petrobras panders to truck drivers.
Is the pension reform doomed?
Economy Minister Paulo Guedes decided not to show up before the lower house’s Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) to defend the pension reform yesterday. As the government’s (supposed) allies would not be present, an irritated Mr. Guedes feared being ambushed by opposition parties who would attack him to get to President Jair Bolsonaro (who was, while was this was unfolding, at the movies with his wife).
Later on in the day, the House approved a different constitutional amendment which takes control over a part of the federal budget away from the government. The bill states that the administration must honor investments proposed by lawmakers. The bill is now in the Senate, where the chamber’s president Davi Alcolumbre said he will give it his “unrestricted support.” If the bill passes, the government will effectively control only 3% of the budget.
The bill was presented in 2015, when Congress was trying to sabotage the Dilma Rousseff administration—and goes completely against what Mr. Guedes’ agenda defends. In response, the government has admitted to slashing...