Today, we break down the first steps of the Covid hearings committee in the Senate. Ongoing budget issues. And vaccine hiccups caused by undisciplined patients.
Senate creates hybrid Covid hearings committee
Under orders from the Supreme Court, Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco presented his peers with a request to create a parliamentary hearings committee (CPI) investigating the government’s pandemic response. While certainly bad news for the administration, Jair Bolsonaro did enjoy a win on Tuesday — managing to broaden the scope of the probe, including an examination on how state governors and city mayors used federal funds to fight the coronavirus.
Why it matters. As the government was unable to kill the committee, it now tries to make it as ineffective as possible.
Delaying work. Besides broadening the scope of the hearings, allies of the president have requested that investigations only take place once in-person meetings are possible again, currently suspended due to the worsening of the pandemic. While the move aims at stalling the committee, there is a legitimate concern that remote sessions may increase the risks of leaks, witness tampering, and other such deviances.
- But it is no less ironic that the government is pursuing a delaying tactic...