Lula praises Congress after protests, says no important government projects have been blocked

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) distributed his thanks this Monday 15 to National Congress. According to Lula, Parliament was “very right” in the analysis of government projects in the economic field. The president’s statement comes a day after protests against Congress in capitals across the country. The event in São Paulo took place in the presence of the Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency, Guilherme Boulos (PSOL-SP).

“I am very grateful for everything that Congress has done for us during these three years of government, both in the Senate and in the House. What it did not approve, perhaps because we did not have the ability to convince them to approve. Other things that were a more ideological and more partisan question. But on the economic question and the benefit of this country, Congress has been right, all this time with my government”, declared Lula during the inauguration of the headquarters from ApexBrasil.

According to the president, there has not been a major government project in these three years that has not been voted on and approved by Congress. The collaboration, according to Lula, came from the parties that supported and opposed him in the 2022 elections.

“We have not had an important project that was not voted on and approved. It was with the contribution of Congress, of the political parties, of those who voted for me, of those who voted against,” said the president.

Compliments come later demonstrations against Congress this Sunday14 years old, in several capitals, motivated by the vote for a project which reduces the sentences of those convicted of the January 8 putschists and the attempted coup d’état. The House approved the proposal last week and sent the text to the Senate; Among those affected is former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL), arrested since November and sentenced to 27 years and 3 months.

The climate is also marked by friction due to programs having a budgetary impact. Under the command of the President of the Senate, David Alcolumbre (União-AP), senators approved on November 25 regulation of special pensions for community health and endemic disease workers. The Treasury estimates a cost of more than 20 billion reais over ten years; The rapporteur mentioned up to 17 billion reais per year.

Tension increased after Lula appointed the Attorney General of the Union, Jorge Messiasfor the Federal Court. Alcolumbre postponed the nomination hearing and began discussing sensitive topics at Planalto. This choice divided senators and sparked public criticism.

Another point of wear was the call “PEC shielding“, approved by the House in September and blocked in the Senate after a broad reaction. The proposal required authorization from Congress to criminally prosecute parliamentarians.