President LulaDisclosure: Ricardo Stuckert
Published 04/23/2024 12:40
The President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, denied this Tuesday, 23, that the government has problems with Congress, despite the risk of the Palácio do Planalto facing “bomb agendas” and the tension between the president of the Chamber , Arthur Lira (PP-AL), and the Minister of Institutional Relations, Alexandre Padilha. For Lula, these are “normal political situations”. “There is no divergence (with Congress) that cannot be overcome. If there were no divergence, there would be no need for us to say that there are three autonomous Powers”, declared Lula, at a breakfast with journalists.
And he added: “We are not going to live in an eternal fight, because, if you opt for the old fight, you don’t approve of anything.”
Lula highlighted that Congress approved the transition PEC, even before his inauguration, to make room in the Budget for the government to recompose social programs, in addition to having approved important proposals such as tax reform. “I honestly don’t think we have a problem in Congress. We have situations that are normal political things.”
Lula confirmed that he met with Lira on Sunday, 21, at Palácio da Alvorada, but refused to detail the content of the conversation.
“I didn’t have a meeting with Lira, I had a conversation with Lira, it’s different,” said the president. “As it was a conversation between two human beings, I am not obligated to speak about the conversation,” he added.
Overturning vetoes
Lula also said that he is not irritated by possible decisions by Congress to overturn vetoes it makes on projects approved by the Legislature. He stated that “this is all part of the political game” and that he sees this type of decision by deputies and senators as “normal”.
“I don’t get nervous or irritated. It’s their role, I have nothing to complain about. Sometimes, I feel uncomfortable with my incompetence of not having convinced them otherwise,” said the president.
‘Saidinha’
Regarding the bill that prohibits the temporary release of prisoners, Lula said he followed a recommendation from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security to veto an excerpt of the proposal. He also defended the right of some prisoners, who have not been convicted of heinous crimes, to have contact with their family for resocialization.
“If Congress overturns it, it’s Congress’s problem. I can regret it, but I have to accept it”, stated the President of the Republic.
Meat price
Lula also said this Tuesday that the price of meat “has to go down much more”, despite having already fallen after just over a year in government. The statement was given amid a response from the president at breakfast with journalists, this Tuesday, about campaign promises made in 2022.
“I didn’t forget the beer and the picanha. I still talk about it to this day. The price of meat has already dropped, but it has to come down much more. All of this is in our program. We have already reduced income tax up to two minimum wages. I am committed to making up to R$5,000 by the end of my term, and I will do it,” said Lula.
The increase in the Income Tax exemption range was approved in the Senate last week and forwarded to presidential sanction.
