Waack: Congress joins the electoral kindness fair

In the fair of pre-election kindnesses, it was now the turn of the National Congress, which overturned a veto by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and allowed the donation of basic food baskets, ambulances and cash to municipalities.

This could not be done during the so-called electoral closure. That is, election period. This type of donation is better known as vote buying.

The same vote in Congress allows municipalities that owed money to social security, for example, to also receive donations. This will benefit more than 3,000 municipalities, announced a triumphant David Alcolumbre, president of Congress, amid a march of mayors in Brasília.

Now, municipalities in default with the federal government will also be able to receive amendments from parliamentarians. By doing so, parliamentarians were first and foremost helping themselves.

As is well known, the regional bases of deputies and senators especially appreciate those who "bring something" to their region. And, with this, they guarantee their own permanence in the Legislature.

Congress has further facilitated the direct use of parliamentary amendments for the construction or maintenance of non-federal highways.

That is the essence of Brazilian politics today. The capture of public coffers or pieces of the State machinery converted into tools for the defense of particular, regional or sectoral interests, and we are not talking about corruption.

As for buying votes, who never? The Lula government will spend around R$200 billion on another fair of kindness. Congress would never be left behind.

Source: CNN