Government says that to combat Covid-19, provisional measure should direct R$1.4T 5 billion in resources to actions against the spread of infection in Brazil.
Last Wednesday (11), Senator Eduardo Gomes, leader of the government in the National Congress, informed that the government must issue a provisional measure (MP) to release R$1.5 billion to combat the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
Gomes' statement came after he participated in a meeting between parliamentarians and the Minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, and the Minister of Health, Luiz Henrique Mandetta. The presidents of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre, and the Chamber of Deputies, Rodrigo Maia, were also present at the meeting.
Provisional measures are issued by the President of the Republic and have the force of law after being published in the “Official Gazette of the Union”. However, the measures require prior approval by Congress within a period of up to 120 days to become concrete laws.
Confirmed cases in Brazil
According to the Ministry of Health, 53 cases of coronavirus have already been confirmed in the country and 907 cases are under suspicion.
“It is a provisional emergency budgetary measure. The amount that was mentioned was R$1.4T 5 billion, but it could be more. It will depend on the need,” said Eduardo Gomes.
The provisional measure, according to the leader, should be published this Thursday (12).
Origin of resources
The leader of Congress, when asked about the origin of the resources for the fight, says that they will be the so-called “rapporteur amendments” to the Budget:
“This is one of the sources. It is the source that is being considered now, but it could be any other. What we want to make clear is that any other type of debate about budget movements other than the emergency one is compromised, because everyone left here very worried about what the result and the evolution of contamination will be like tomorrow and over the weekend,” said Gomes.
This Thursday, President Jair Bolsonaro, Maia and Alcolumbre are expected to meet to discuss the matter.
The Speaker of the House said he was certain that the government and Congress, together, “will organize” a solution this week.