Chamber hires consulting firm for R$ 4,9 million to restore public image.
The contract stipulates the use of artificial intelligence and crisis management strategies until August 2026.
247 - The Chamber of Deputies hired the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) for R$ 4,97 million to revamp its digital communication and modernize the House's presence on social media. The contract, according to... Folha de S. Paul, it was signed in early October and is valid until August 2026.
The measure is part of the strategy of the Speaker of the House, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), to try to reverse the image crisis after the approval of the so-called "Shielding Amendment," which was the target of protests in all state capitals, and the discussion about amnesty for those convicted for coup attempts. The rejection of the provisional measure that increased taxes also amplified the friction with the Lula government and the PT, who accuse Congress of protecting the privileges of the economic elite.
Boos and political fallout
Motta's political decline became evident on October 15th, during the Teacher's Day event in Rio de Janeiro, when he was booed by the audience. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva tried to calm things down alongside the congressman, but did not fail to criticize Parliament. "Hugo is the president of this Congress and he knows that this Congress has never been of such low quality as it is now. That extreme right wing that was elected in the last election is the worst thing that exists," Lula stated.
What does the contract with FGV stipulate?
According to the document, the consultancy will offer workshops, mentoring, production of manuals and monthly reports. Two laboratories are also planned: one dedicated to artificial intelligence applied to communication and another focused on audiovisual production, with videos and podcasts.
According to the report, the contract also includes strategies for rapid crisis response and continuous monitoring of social media to identify public perception and the most sensitive issues under discussion.
New communication policy of the Chamber
Simultaneously, Motta signed the House's social communication policy, which establishes criteria for institutional content. The text prohibits official channels from disseminating false, decontextualized, or politically biased information.
The guideline stipulates that communication must be impartial, transparent, and pluralistic, reinforcing the role of Parliament in democracy. It also calls for the use of accessible language to bring citizens closer to the legislative process.
Reaction and change of focus
Following the crisis surrounding the "Shielding PEC" (Proposed Constitutional Amendment), Motta intensified interviews with various media outlets and altered the plenary agenda, prioritizing public safety, education, the protection of children and adolescents, and expanding the income tax exemption bracket.
In a speech during a BTG bank event in São Paulo, the Speaker of the House defended the proposed constitutional amendment and criticized the way the debate was conducted:
“Seeing all this discussion distorted is not right. Now is the time to remove all these toxic issues from the agenda. Perhaps the Chamber had its most difficult and challenging week last week, but we decided that we will remove these toxic issues because nobody can stand this discussion anymore. Brazil needs to look to the future,” said Motta.
