Government Increases Pressure to Get Pension Reform Bill Approved

12/06/2017 - 10h28

President Michel Temer has increased pressure on his governing coalition in the lower house of congress by stating that the political environment has changed and is now favorable for the approval of the pension reform bill.

However, allies are still holding out on putting the bill - a constitutional amendment proposal (PEC) - to a vote this year.

The administration believes that the fate of the bill will be decided on Thursday (the 5th). President Temer will assemble party leaders in order to get a more realistic read on how congressmen are positioning themselves. Several different parties will also be putting together committees in order to discuss the reform.

Temer's assessment will help the president of the lower house of congress, Rodrigo Maia (DEM-RJ), decide whether or not the bill will be put to a vote next week.

"I have not yet scheduled a session to begin the discussion. We will only know if there are enough votes to bring the vote to the floor once the meetings with party leaders have already occurred", Mr. Maia said.

Despite the euphoric tone adopted by president Temer and other allies, members of the governing coalition admit behind the scenes that it is too soon to celebrate.

They estimate that the bill currently has the support of somewhere between 265 and 280 congressmen – below the 308 votes necessary to get the bill approved.

Even though the Temer administration has increased pressure on the governing coalition, members of parties, such as the PSD, PP, PR and DEM, have positioned themselves against the bill – some of whom have even done so publicly, meaning that the congressmen who vote against the bill may be reprimanded or even kicked out of their parties.

Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON

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	Ueslei Marcelino - 26.jun.2017/Folhapress
	Brazilian President Michel Temer