Internet users charge Plínio Valério on Ufam budget cuts

Ívina Garcia – From Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – Omissive to the budget blocks of the Federal University of Amazonas (Ufam), which announced is without funds to pay for water, electricity and outsourced contracts, Senator Plinio Valerio (PSDB) has been charged by Internet users to position himself on the matter.

The Amazonian politician has also received criticism regarding the vote against the so-called “PEC Transition”, which guarantees the continuity of payment of the Bolsa Familia (Brazil Allowance). From the Amazon, only Mr. Plínio (AM) and Mr. Marcos Rogério, from PL of Rondônia (RO), voted against the measure proposed by the Lula Government.

“And the story of the cut in Ifam and Ufam? It will be just looking to want to be hero of history only from 2023?”, questioned an Instagram user in a post on the official network of the senator where he explains why he voted against the PEC. “Ufam without resources because Bolsonaro took money from Education”, wrote another user.

Also read: No money for water and electricity, Ufam has cut R$ 13 million of the budget

According to Mr. Valério, the Workers Party (PT) – is asking “far beyond what is necessary”, because the PEC breaches the spending ceiling. The justification, However, has not convinced nor the militancy of PSDB Amazon, that in message groups questioned the senator’s position.

“Talking about the Brazil Aid that few people have not yet understood the impact of it on families… The population is much more impoverished, who lived the last election knows that. And there are still people who think that discussing the PEC is giving ‘money to people who don’t work'”, pointed out a member of the Regional Directory.

Even when the National Executive of PSDB directed the party as opposition to President Jair Bolsonaro (PL), Valério continued defending Bolsonarist agendas and considered antidemocratic for attacking the institutions, as the cassation of ministers of the Supreme Court (STF).

According to Law 14.197/2021, of the Brazilian Penal Code, it is a crime to “attempt, with the use of violence or serious threat, to abolish the democratic state of law, preventing or restricting the exercise of constitutional powers”, with a prison sentence of four to eight years, in addition to the sentence corresponding to the violence.

Also read: Away from the spotlight, Senator Plínio Valério reappears to defend coup acts and impeachment of STF minister

Performance

Mr. Plínio Valério (PSDB) was elected, in 2018, in a close race with Mr. Luís Castro, at the time, of the Rede Party, and Mr. Eduardo Braga (MDB). He arrived occupying the first vacancy and Eduardo Braga got the second. He was sworn in in January 2019, and since then he has appeared little in the media. His performance in the Senate brings together agendas such as the “printed ballot”. Another banner was the CPI of NGOs, to investigate organizations, their resources and performances.

Of the major standing committees of the Senate, Mr. Valério only occupies a seat in the Environment Committee. According to the Federal Senate Portal, the parliamentarian made 33 speeches in 2022, 23 in 2021, 36 in 2020 and 76 in 2019. Plinio Valério spent, from the Senate resources, in 2022, R$ 324,625.25. In 2021, it was R$ 335,710.69. In 2020, R$ 261,980.95 and, in 2019, R$ 296,932.06, making a total of R$ 1,219,248.95 in four years of performance.

Transition PEC

The Senate Plenary approved – 64 votes in favour in each of the two rounds, with 16 against in the first and 13 in the second – the PEC 32/2022, which has been called the Transition PEC and guarantees R$ 145 billion outside the spending cap in federal budgets for the next two years. The measure may ensure the continuity of the payment of the Bolsa Família (Brazil Allowance), worth R$ 600 per month, with an additional portion of R$ 150 for each child up to six years old in beneficiary families. The text now goes to the House of Representatives.