PT condemns Temer's maneuver to favor millionaires in elections.
In a statement, the PT leaders in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, Carlos Zarattini (SP) and Lindbergh Farias (RJ), repudiate and define as "another blow to democracy" Michel Temer's vetoes of fundamental articles of the political reform unanimously approved by Congress; "The vetoes on the ceiling for self-financing of candidates and donations privilege those with more financial resources and access to big capital, constituting a serious distortion of democracy. Temer violated the sovereignty of the National Congress and chose to privilege money in elections," the parliamentarians state; by vetoing a section of the reform on the subject, Temer maintains the current rule according to which a candidate can contribute 100% of donations to their campaign, provided that the spending limits for the position they are seeking are respected.
247 - In a statement, the PT leaders in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, Congressman Carlos Zarattini (SP) and Senator Lindbergh Farias (RJ), repudiate and define as "yet another blow to democracy" Michel Temer's vetoes of fundamental articles of the political reform unanimously approved by Congress.
By vetoing a section of the reform on the subject, Temer maintained the current rule according to which a candidate can contribute 100% of donations to their campaign, as long as the spending limits for the position they are seeking are respected.read more).
"Temer violated the sovereignty of the National Congress and chose to prioritize money in the elections," the parliamentarians stated on behalf of the PT (Workers' Party). "Temer's two vetoes favor candidates with ties to big capital or who possess great fortunes. He is thus attempting to create a democracy of the rich, a plutocracy in the 21st century," they added.
Read the full note below:
ANOTHER BLOW TO DEMOCRACY
The Workers' Party (PT) representatives in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate repudiate President Michel Temer's vetoes of fundamental articles of the political reform unanimously approved by the National Congress. The vetoes regarding the cap on self-financing for candidates and donations favor those with greater financial resources and access to large capital, constituting a serious distortion of democracy. Temer violated the sovereignty of the National Congress and chose to prioritize money in elections.
The approved rules limited a candidate's donations to their own campaign, but now, with the veto, they can contribute up to 100%. The veto on donations from individuals to ten minimum wages, maintaining the wording of the current law, which allows donations of up to 10% of their gross income, is another inconceivable setback. In short, Temer's two vetoes favor candidates with close ties to big capital or who have large fortunes. The attempt is to create a democracy of the rich, a plutocracy in the 21st century.
The political reform made progress on important points, such as the establishment of threshold clauses, the end of coalitions, the institution of an electoral fund, and the creation of a spending cap. Temer, however, by promoting the vetoes, radically altered the central structure of what was approved.
Democratic advances were reversed with a single stroke of the pen by a president who makes it clear that he is on the side of those who are currently trying to create funds to support candidates aligned with foreign interests and privileged sectors of Brazilian society.
The Workers' Party, through its representatives in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, has worked to guarantee a fairer electoral system, in order to make elections more democratic and balanced, and to definitively end corporate financing in the country. The Workers' Party representatives in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate will fight, along with other parties, to overturn Temer's vetoes.
Brasilia, October 7, 2017
Carlos Zarattini (SP), leader of the Workers' Party in the Chamber of Deputies
Lindbergh Farias (RJ), leader of the Workers' Party in the Senate.