'Temer wants to denationalize Brazil,' says congressman.
Brazilian Congressman Carlos Zarattini (PT-SP) criticized the measure being studied by the Michel Temer government to sell land to foreigners; according to the congressman, the proposal "will allow the creation of foreign enclaves in the country"; currently, the law prohibits the purchase of agricultural properties by foreigners; according to the Minister of Agriculture, Blairo Maggi, "the Attorney General's Office is studying this opinion again"; the document cites risks to national sovereignty in the sale of land abroad; US states and Mexico have similar restrictions, mainly in border or coastal areas.
247 "The intention of the Temer government is to denationalize Brazil, as evidenced by the pre-salt oil exploration debate. The sale of land to foreigners will allow the creation of foreign enclaves in the country," criticized federal deputy Carlos Zarattini (PT-SP). The government of interim president Michel Temer is studying a way to allow the sale of land in the country to foreigners and considers this measure among the main actions to accelerate economic growth. Currently, the law prohibits the purchase of agricultural properties by foreigners, but, according to the Minister of Agriculture, Blairo Maggi, the change will increase the value of Brazilian land, as well as increase the financing capacity of agriculture through foreign banks, which could use the land as collateral.
"There is intent, and I see no reason why there shouldn't be a presence of foreigners with land in Brazil. The Attorney General's Office is studying this opinion again. If it comes in line with the past interpretation, a good part of the problems will be solved, without having to go through Congress," said Maggi, according to a report by Globo, which had revealed, in May, the government's intention to sell land.
The minister stated, however, that it will be necessary to establish limits for when production is not financially attractive to an international fund, which could choose not to plant, in a more flexible way than a national producer.
The Attorney General's Office (AGU) confirmed that it is analyzing the 2010 opinion, but stated that there is still no decision on the matter. The opinion specifically cites risks to national sovereignty in the sale of land abroad. US states and Mexico have similar restrictions, mainly in border or coastal areas.
"We are absolutely against the sale of land to foreigners. This is not an environmental or agricultural issue, but one of national sovereignty," said Marcio Astrini, Public Policy Coordinator at Greenpeace Brazil.
Maggi denies risks to sovereignty or national defense, but admits there is concern that foreign funds may speculate with national lands, which raises the discussion about the need to regulate this activity.