Congressmen in Brazil submit a bill granting Bolsonaro war powers

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The leader of the PSL party in the Chamber of Deputies, Bolsonarist deputy Major Vitor Hugo (PSL), and the leader of a 14-party bloc, deputy Hugo Mota (Republicans), asked for urgency to vote on a bill that provides for the use of the institute of “National Mobilization” in cases of pandemics and natural disasters, along the lines of what is currently provided for in the legislation in case of war.

The law regulating National Mobilization empowers the government to intervene in the private and public sectors, requisitioning and reorienting the production, marketing, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

The law also provides for the recall of civilians and military personnel. In the case of National Mobilization, the government does not have to observe tenders or bureaucratic rules: it could demand that drug factories only produce chloroquine, for example, according to constitutional attorney Cláudio Pereira de Souza Neto. It also removes powers from the state and municipal governments.

In the project’s justification, deputy Vitor Hugo says that the National Mobilization can not be confused with a State of Siege because the latter foresees the withdrawal of personal liberties. But attorney Souza Neto recalls that National Mobilization withdraws liberties of property. In an extreme situation, the government could take citizens’ homes.

“If such a project passes in Congress, lawsuits will immediately pour in the Supreme Court,” says the attorney. Deputy Kim Kataguiri (DEM) said in his social networks that although the project has not yet been put on the agenda, it could be voted on immediately as it is with block signatures. “The coup is underway,” said the deputy.

Deputy Vitor Hugo presented bill 1074/2021 on March 25, and yesterday the urgency request was made. Radar Econômico found out that the group of party leaders blocked the bill’s vote in Tuesday’s session.

If placed on the agenda, the bill could be passed with a simple majority of 257 votes and then would need to be approved by the Senate.

It is also worth noting that deputy Hugo Mota also filed an urgent request to vote on PL 1074 on behalf of a bloc that includes the following parties: PSL, PL, PP, PSD, MDB, PSDB, REPUBLICANOS, DEM, PROS, PTB, PODE, PSC, AVANTE and PATRIOTA.

Source: Veja

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