Brazil is in crisis. And once again, the poorest will bear the burden
Brazil is in crisis. And once again, the poorest will bear the burden
Mariana Prandini Assis
President Michel Temer is aiming to enshrine 20 years of austerity in the constitution. It amounts to a coup against the poor – and against democracy itself
Friday 2 December 2016 07.30 EST
Poor Brazilians have long counted on a thin welfare state for basic human rights, such as healthcare, education and social security; but this reality may soon drastically change. Brazil’s unelected president, Michel Temer, is seeking to amend the constitution to impose unprecedented austerity measures for the next two decades, effectively disenfranchising ordinary Brazilians, and especially the country’s most vulnerable citizens.
Temer, formerly Dilma Rousseff’s ally and vice president, came to power in August as Rousseff was ousted from office in a highly controversial impeachment procedure many have called a parliamentary coup. The country he has taken charge of is facing a serious economic crisis similar to that confronting many of Brazil’s neighbours; his answer for a stagnant economy is to freeze the federal budget for decades through a constitutional amendment.
PEC 55, as the amendment is known in Brazil, establishes that for the next 20 years, growth in annual public spending will be limited to the previous year’s inflation rate, thereby freezing, in real terms, federal expenditures until 2037 at 2016 levels.
. . .
PEC 55 not only means that public spending on education, healthcare and social assistance will remain constant for years as the population grows and ages, but also that various interest groups will be fighting over the meagre money left over. Quite predictably, during this arm-wrestling match, the more powerful actors, such as the judiciary and military, will be able to secure funding at the expense of public universities and the health system.
More:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/dec/02/brazil-20-years-austerity-michel-temer
