According to the opposition, oil companies, not workers, should foot the bill for Temer's agreement.
This week will be marked by discussions about the Provisional Measures (MPs) from the Temer government, which deal with reducing the price of diesel fuel; the opposition affirms that it will work to make changes that do not mean passing this cost on to workers; "We will not accept, for example, allowing resources allocated in the budget for social areas to be withdrawn when we have the trillion-dollar MP in effect, which benefits large oil companies. It is these large companies that will have to help balance this account," said the PT leader in the Chamber of Deputies, Paulo Pimenta.
Hylda Cavalcanti, Current Brazil Network - The week in Congress will be marked, starting this Tuesday (12), by the discussion of deputies and senators on the Provisional Measures (MPs) published by the Temer government on the last day of 31, which deal with adjusting the Budget so that the Union finances the reduction in the price of diesel oil. The MPs have already entered into force until they are voted on by the Legislature. But opposition parliamentarians say they will work to make changes that do not represent passing this cost on to workers. "We are in favor of reducing the price of diesel oil and also gasoline and cooking gas, but we will not allow this reduction to be done in the way it was proposed by the Executive," said the leader of the PT, Paulo Pimenta (RS), when commenting on the issue.
Pimenta said that the opposition has an active group of parliamentarians participating in the special committees created to examine these matters and leading the discussions. He also stated that other alternatives will be offered in response to what was proposed in these texts.
"We will not accept, for example, allowing resources allocated in the budget for social areas to be withdrawn when we have the trillion-dollar Provisional Measure in effect, which benefits large oil companies. These large companies will have to help balance the budget," said the leader.
Pimenta was referring, with his statement, to the text (conversion law of the Provisional Measure) that grants tax benefits to oil companies that will operate in oil extraction blocks.
Nicknamed the "Trillion Dollar Provisional Measure" – for imposing losses of this magnitude on the Union over the next 25 years, as a result of tax exemptions, according to analysis by experts and the sector – the text exempts from import taxes machinery, projects and services under the responsibility of foreign companies with interests in oil fields.
Work plans
It was agreed that this week the work plans of each committee would be presented, as well as the requests for public hearings to be held with technicians, economists, academics, and various civil society entities.
Regarding truck freight prices, a topic that caused confusion last Friday and is the subject of another provisional measure, lawmakers argue that the possibility of regulating these prices should be discussed.
"We know there needs to be regulation in the Brazilian freight market, but this causes hives among some fundamentalist liberals," stated Congressman Henrique Fontana (PT-RS).
"If we know how much diesel costs, the tolls, the driver's pay, and how many hours they have to work, how can we not determine a minimum value that guarantees the viability of this activity?" the congressman questioned.
Regarding the Provisional Measure that amends the Truck Driver Law to extend the exemption from toll payment for the suspended axle of trucks (empty trucks) to state, district, and municipal highways, one of the issues to be discussed is the resistance of states and municipalities to maintaining toll charges.
"In my opinion, this is an unfair charge, because tolls charge for something that does not cause deterioration to the pavement. It is a legitimate demand from truck drivers, but we have to discuss and talk with these mayors and governors and present well-founded arguments based on hearings to be scheduled with sector technicians," said the president of the special committee that will consider the matter, Deputy Sandro Alex (PSD-PR).
In total, there are five provisional measures addressing the demands of truck drivers. Members of Congress agree that these matters should be considered expeditiously, even considering the Congressional recess period, which begins in the second half of the year due to the election period.
But they want to use these remaining days to have a heated debate about Petrobras' pricing policy.
Many want to include, among those summoned to the public hearings, executives from the state-owned company and even former president Pedro Parente – author of the company's current pricing policy, who recently resigned.