Brasil

October 22nd, 2021

VOLVER

1. COVID CPI requests indictment of Bolsonaro and 65 others

The final report of the COVID CPI, led by Senator Renan Calheiros (MDB-AL), requested indictment of 66 people and two companies for crimes against public health. Among the people indicted are President Jair Bolsonaro, his three sons, government ministers, former ministers, federal representatives, and executives.

The rapporteur presented a summary of the document during the CPI session on Wednesday (20). The full report is over 1,000 pages long and will have to be approved by the Parliamentary Inquiry Commission. Following approval, it will be sent to several institutions including the Prosecutor-General of the Republic, state prosecutors’ offices, and the Federal Court of Accounts.

The request to indict Bolsonaro includes allegation of crimes related to: epidemic resulting in death, infractions against preventive sanitary measures, quackery, criminal incitement, falsification of a private documents, irregular use of public funds, prevarication, crimes against humanity, and neglect of responsibility

G1: CPI da Covid: relator pede o indiciamento de Bolsonaro e mais 65 pessoas e 2 empresas
CNN: CPI da Pandemia apresenta relatório com 68 indiciados; veja íntegra e destaques
TV Senado: Veja como foi a Apresentação do relatório final

2. Following complications, Brazil launches Auxílio Brazil but surpasses spending ceiling

Auxílio Brazil, the social benefit program that will replace Bolsa Família, continues to cause problems for the Brazilian government. After its announcement was delayed due to a leak of its size and the market’s subsequent negative reaction, the government finally managed to launch the program. The latest complication revolved around the program possibly surpassing the spending ceiling, thereby breaching the Law of Fiscal Responsibility.

The regulatory economic team wanted to limit the benefit to be a maximum of R$ 300 a month. However, the administration advocated for a higher amount – R$ 400 – and chalked up the difference as a temporary measure.

According to Citizenship Minister João Roma, the government will respect the spending ceiling, but has not explained where the money for the program will come from. Economy Minister Paulo Guedes admitted that funding will be R$ 30 billion over the spending ceiling. According to Guedes, the government can request a spending ceiling waiver to implement the program.

Globo/Jornal Nacional: Governo anuncia Auxílio Brasil de R$ 400, mas não revela a fonte do dinheiro
Agência Brasil: Auxílio Brasil: ministro diz que governo usará R$ 30 bi fora do teto
G1: Reações da equipe econômica e do mercado fazem governo adiar Auxílio Brasil
Jota: Governo cancela cerimônia de anúncio do Auxílio Brasil
CNN: Bolsonaro confirma Auxílio Brasil de R$ 400 e diz que “ninguém vai furar o teto”

3. Government working to sell Eletrobras in 2022

On Tuesday (19), the executive secretary of the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), Marisete Pereira said that Brazil should begin the process of selling Eletrobras in the first half of 2022. The company’s largest stakeholder is the federal government.

“All the steps we planned since the law was enacted by President Jair Bolsonaro are being rigorously followed. Therefore, we are working to place the company on the market in the first quarter of 2022, following everything that a project this challenging requires. We remain confident this can be accomplished,” she said.

The privatization plan for Eletrobras states that the government will relinquish control over the company and allow any person residing in Brazil to buy company stock. Eletrobras’ employees, former employees, and subsidiary companies will receive priority for buying 10% of the total available stock.

Valor Econômico: Ministério prevê venda da Eletrobras no início de 2022
O Globo: Governo vai permitir que trabalhadores comprem ações da Eletrobras

4. Ahead of COP-26, Brazilian Senate tries to approve new environmental goal

The Brazilian Senate is considering accelerating its goal to reduce greenhouse gases emissions by at least five years. Its plan is to quicken the approval process to allow the government to present the new goal at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-26), planned for November 1st in Glasgow, Scotland.

The bill would bring Brazil’s commitment to reduce emissions by 43% forward from 2030 to 2025. The bill was presented by Senator Kátia Abreu (PP-TO) in April but is only now receiving attention due to the upcoming conference. According to the financial newspaper Valor Econômico, the Brazilian government plans to vote on the bill as an urgent matter in the Chamber of Deputies to get it approved before the end of COP-26 on November 12th.

According to Kátia Abreu’s bill, the main path for reducing emissions faster is to end illegal deforestation, which should happen within 120 days after the bill is approved.

Valor Econômico: Antes da COP-26, Senado deve aprovar nova meta climática
Senado Notícias: COP26 começa em 1° de novembro para debater o aquecimento global

5. More than 50% of Brazilians are completely vaccinated against COVID-19

This week, vaccination against COVID-19 grew nearly 3 percentage points. In total, over 106 million people are now fully vaccinated (50.1%). Last week, it was just under 100 million (47.11%).

According to media reports, over 152 million people have taken the first dose of the vaccine, representing 71.41% of Brazilians. The booster shot (third dose) has been given to 2.4% of Brazilians, or 5 million people.

In total – including first dosess, second doses, single doses, and booster shots – over 264 million vaccine doses have been administered since the vaccination campaign began.

Average daily deaths in the last seven days was 351, the 8th consecutive day below 400. Last week, Brazil registered its lowest daily death average since the beginning of the pandemic (322 deaths). As of Tuesday (19), the total number of deaths in Brazil caused by coronavirus was 603,902.

G1: Brasil chega a 50% da população totalmente imunizada contra Covid
Agência BR: Brasil registra menor média móvel de mortes desde o início da pandemia