The President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), vetoed Bill (PL) No. 1,791/2019. The PL had been approved by Congress at the beginning of December and dealt with the use of employees of companies in the electrical sector responsible for the production, transmission, distribution and sale of energy. The decision was published in the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU) this Monday (29).
According to the approved text, workers from these companies could be reallocated to other state-owned companies or mixed-capital companies, with compatible duties and salaries, if they did not choose to remain within the privatized companies.
In the text, the president informs the Federal Senate that he decided to block the proposal “due to unconstitutionality and contrary to the public interest”, under the terms of article 66 of the Constitution.
According to the justification, by allowing the use of public employees in other public companies or mixed-capital companies, in positions that are not part of their original career, the project would violate provisions of the Constitution and the consolidated understanding of the Federal Supreme Court. The decision was taken after consultations with the Ministries of Finance, Planning and Budget, Management and Innovation in Public Services and the Federal Attorney General’s Office (AGU).
According to the government, although it recognizes the legislator’s intention, the project would create an increase in personnel expenses without due estimation of the budgetary and financial impact.
“Despite the good intentions of the legislator, the legislative proposal is unconstitutional and goes against the public interest by establishing an increase in personnel expenses without presenting an estimate of the budgetary and financial impact”, says the presidential order.
With the full veto, the project now returns to the National Congress, which will be able to maintain or overturn the presidential decision in a joint session of deputies and senators.
Giulia Dardé under the supervision of Letícia Souza.
