📋 Tender Overview
The Senate Plenary approved this Wednesday (22) a complementary bill that guarantees R$30 billion for strategic National Defense projects over the next six years (). This proposal creates a new exception to the fiscal framework to accommodate investments by the Armed Forces: R$5 billion per year will be outside the budget spending limit.
The matter, which received 57 votes in favor and 4 against, goes to the Chamber of Deputies for analysis.
Authored by senator Carlos Portinho (PL-RJ), the project was approved in the form of an alternative text presented by senator Randolfe Rodrigues (PT-AP). This alternative text received contributions from the military.
The money must necessarily be used to modernize the Army, Navy and Brazilian Air Force (FAB) and to ensure the advancement of programs such as the Integrated Border Monitoring System (Sisfron) and the development of the Brazilian nuclear submarine, in addition to renewing the fighter fleet with Swedish Gripen jets.
-- PLP 204 aims to ensure that strategic projects for National Defense have at least R$30 billion for investments in defense in the coming years -- reiterated Randolfe, who is the government leader in Congress.
According to Portinho, the measure will allow better planning and better execution of strategic projects of national interest, avoiding discontinuities that compromise the efficiency and effectiveness of actions. Furthermore, he argued that the project seeks to avoid wasting resources, since projects that are paralyzed due to lack of budget generate the deterioration of equipment and facilities.
-- Of the Gripen planes, purchased under Dilmas government, which have not yet been delivered, just from interest on these contracts, which are being renegotiated every year due to lack of payment, we have already lost two aircraft. They are already equivalent to the price of two aircraft. So whats less worse? What is necessary is to guarantee this budget and for us to honor the commitments made by the defense industry -- he declared.
Although he recognized the importance of guaranteeing resources for the Armed Forces, senator Rogerio Marinho (PL-RN) criticized the way the government has handled the fiscal issue, stating that every week we witness a parade of exceptions that become rules.
-- The rule is: the established fiscal target is not met. (...) In this case, it is not up to us to discuss: we have to highlight the importance of the Armed Forces, which, in fact, need to be well equipped, motivated, well paid -- said Marinho, who is the leader of the opposition in the Senate.
Several senators defended the initiative, including Astronauta Marcos Pontes (PL-SP) and Hamilton Mourao (Republicanos-RS).
-- The consultation with the government was excellent, which understood that this is not a government project, it is a project of the Brazilian State. The Brazilian State, a long time ago, chose to have Armed Forces. So, if you have the Armed Forces, you have to spend on them -- said Mourao.
Agencia Senado (Reproduction authorized upon citation from Agencia Senado)
