Emergency aid may return, but not for everyone.
In a press conference following a meeting with the president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (DEM-MG), the Minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, spoke about the possibility of the return of emergency aid. However, the benefit is expected to be limited to half the population that received it in 2020.
Advertisements
“Instead of 64 million, it could be half of that, because the other half already goes back into existing social programs. And we will understand this quickly, because the situation in Brazil demands this speed,” Guedes declared.
According to the Minister, of the 64 million people who received the aid, 26 million are already registered in other income distribution programs, such as Bolsa Família.
So, Guedes informed that the focus, at the moment, is to help those who do not receive any other assistance from the government, the so-called "invisible" ones.
“The other group, the invisible ones, is the one we are now focusing our aid on. It is possible, we have the budget for it, as long as it is within a new fiscal framework, robust enough to face any imbalances. That is what we are evaluating together,” Guedes stated.
Budget
Both Guedes and Pacheco have a similar discourse when it comes to renewing emergency aid. For both, the eventual payment of more installments is subject to the creation of a new fiscal framework that limits excessive government spending.
“The pandemic continues, and now I have come to the Minister of Economy to express what is a concern of the National Congress,” said the Senate president regarding the return of the benefit. Pacheco also stated that it is necessary to exercise “caution” regarding the federal budget to prevent “things from getting worse.”
Guedes, for his part, appeared positive regarding Pacheco's requests. However, he again stressed the need to respect the public spending cap. "It is very important that this is within a framework of financial recovery," he said.
Paid in 2020 to informal workers, the unemployed, self-employed individuals, and micro-entrepreneurs, the emergency aid consisted of five installments of R$600.00 or R$1,200.00 in the case of single mothers. Subsequently, there were four installments of R$300.00 or R$600.00.
