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Montevideo, March 29th 2024 - 13:59 UTC

 

 

Brazilian crucial pension reform bill needs 308 votes, but is still 46 short

Friday, December 1st 2017 - 18:38 UTC
Full article 6 comments
A government plan to hold a vote next week will likely get put off until Dec 13, with days to spare before the Congressional recess begins on Dec 22. A government plan to hold a vote next week will likely get put off until Dec 13, with days to spare before the Congressional recess begins on Dec 22.
“We’re working on that. Let’s start counting the votes,” Maia said. “If we do not work for the approval of the reform, we will be delivering a very uncertain future.” “We’re working on that. Let’s start counting the votes,” Maia said. “If we do not work for the approval of the reform, we will be delivering a very uncertain future.”

Brazil’s lower house Speaker Rodrigo Maia said on Monday he will try to pass a fiscally crucial pension reform bill this year in the chamber, but he told reporters he would only put the measure to the vote if it has enough support.

 The bill needs a three-fifths super majority of 308 votes to pass and poll by Arko Advice consultancy found the government is 46 votes short and time is running out. A government plan to hold a vote next week will likely get put off until Dec 13, with days to spare before the Congressional recess begins on Dec 22.

“We’re working on that. Let’s start counting the votes,” he said during an event hosted by a weekly magazine. “If we do not work for the approval of the reform, we will be delivering a very uncertain future.”

He added that “I’m going to start consulting the parties for the leaders to consult their counterparts and try to vote the matter” but acknowledged that the voting deadline is way too tight.

Maia also said that he intends to move ahead with a draft bill that he believes has conditions to be approved, despite the Ministry of Finance’s resistance to new changes.

In related news Finance minister Henrique Meirelles announced at an event in Sao Paulo that Brazil’s government is on track to turn a surplus before debt payments in three years, based on current growth forecasts and a constitutionally imposed spending cap

 

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  • Eric Ehrmann

    This issue has been fraught with classic Brazilian political “doublespeak” for months bordering “fake news”. Folha reported that a the legal system has ordered suspendedc propagnda promoting the government reform of the “pension system”. Then too Temer Team mix of clientism and cronyism running out of jobs and patronage to distribute to buy votes. And Mierelles, the “humble nonseeking” presidential hopeful saying that a 0.1 percent in crease in growth is the indication of a turnaround won't put many biscuits in the basket. The traffic jam at the intersection of “free market” governance and retail politics indicates just how much Brazil's multiparty political system is running against the wind.

    Dec 02nd, 2017 - 10:33 am 0
  • Jack Bauer

    With about 25 political parties “for hire”, if approved, the reform of the pension system will come at a high cost, but nothing compared to that if it is not approved. The problem is that the 'people' couldn't care less who their reps are in Congress....kill and die for your soccer team, but let Congress rob you silly.

    Dec 02nd, 2017 - 06:58 pm 0
  • :o))

    From Reuters:
    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-corruption-janot-exclusive/exclusive-former-top-brazil-prosecutor-says-successor-police-chief-slowing-graft-probes-idUSKBN1DV4Q1

    Dec 04th, 2017 - 11:25 am 0
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