Renan Calheiros says that the “Dani-Lira” law is “garbage” and the Chamber reacts
The project that protects politicians was criticized by Renan Calheiros, who attacked the President of the Chamber, Arthur Lira, and the deputy Dani Cunha Renan Calheiros (MDB-AL) described as “garbage” the bill that protects politicians from “discrimination,” which was approved last week by the Chamber of Deputies. In addition to attacking the author, Dani Cunha…
The project that protects politicians was criticized by Renan Calheiros, who attacked the President of the Chamber, Arthur Lira, and the deputy Dani Cunha
Renan Calheiros (MDB-AL) described as “garbage” the bill that protects politicians from “discrimination,” which was approved last week by the Chamber of Deputies. In addition to attacking the author, Dani Cunha (União-RJ), the senator also criticized Arthur Lira (PP-AL), the president of the Lower House. Several leaders reacted and signed a statement of repudiation against the lawmaker’s remarks.
The statement was signed by the following leaders: Felipe Carreras (PSB-PE), Elmar Nascimento (União-BA), Adolfo Viana (PSDB-BA), Fred Costa (Patriota-MG), Alex Manente (Cidadania-SP), André Figueiredo (PDT-CE), André Fufuca (PP-MA), Áureo Ribeiro (Solidariedade-RJ), Luis Tibé (Avante-MG), and Altineu Côrtes (PL-RJ).
“The Dani/Lira law is legislative garbage. There is no chance of it passing in the Federal Senate. They only needed to change the Chamber’s plenary from Ulysses Guimarães to Eduardo Cunha. It’s the unfolding of Lira. Unbelievable the support from MDB and PT,” Renan Calheiros said on Twitter. The bill was approved on 14/6 in a speedy vote and received criticism from civil society.
In the statement, the leaders point out that Renan Calheiros reduces the role of Congress to a regional dispute, placing “his interests above the interests of the nation.” The senator is a rival of Arthur Lira in Alagoas. They belong to opposing political groups and supported different candidates in the state elections of 2022. There is even the possibility of them competing for a Senate seat in the 2026 elections.
“Hollow speeches, poor in solutions, and rich in catchy phrases, in search of ‘likes,’ only serve those who benefit from a model of a country where institutions take opposite paths, generating harmful consequences to our people. It is irresponsible for a lawmaker to utter empty and hateful words without any evidence,” a passage from the statement reads.
Conflict
Recently, Renan Calheiros referred to Arthur Lira as a bad example and accused his rival from Alagoas of financial defaults and assaulting his ex-wife. The President of the Chamber of Deputies responded, stating that the problem with his rival from Alagoas is “psychiatric.”
Source: https://www.metropoles.com/brasil/politica-brasil/renan-calheiros-diz-que-lei-dani-lira-e-lixo-e-camara-reage
Context
In just a few hours, a bill aimed at protecting politicians and defendants in non-finalized legal proceedings was approved by the Chamber of Deputies. The proposal criminalizes discrimination against political agents. Both the urgency regime and the merits of Bill 2720/23 were approved on the evening of Wednesday (June 14th). The text has been referred to by critical lawmakers as the “Censorship Bill 2.”
The bill was approved by 252 votes in favor and 163 against in the Chamber. Only the PSOL-Rede federation and the Novo party advised against it. Both the government and the opposition recommended approving this matter. The author of Bill 2720/23 is Deputy Dani Cunha (União-RJ), the daughter of Eduardo Cunha, former President of the Chamber.
Cunha was sentenced to 16 years in prison for passive corruption and money laundering by the Federal Court of Paraná. However, the decision was overturned this year by the Supreme Federal Court (STF). Dani Cunha’s bill provides protection for politically exposed persons, that is, holders of elective mandates in the Executive and Legislative branches of the Union.
Former Deputy Eduardo Cunha was seen in the corridors of the Chamber on the day of the vote.
The bill provides for additional penalties (see below) for crimes resulting from discrimination committed solely based on the victim’s status as a “politically exposed person.” The additional punishment also applies to those who discriminate against defendants in ongoing judicial proceedings due to convictions without a final verdict or the possibility of appeal.
The text includes as “politically exposed persons” authorities such as the President of the Republic, deputies, senators, State Ministers, STF justices, CNJ members, high-ranking military officers, political party leaders, executives in higher positions in public companies, and holders of high-level government positions. The families and “close collaborators” of these individuals would also be protected by the law if approved.
Penalties
Bill 2720/23, whose substitute text was presented minutes before the plenary deliberation, establishes a prison sentence of two to four years and a fine for those who commit the following actions against someone due to their status as a “politically exposed person” or as a defendant in non-finalized legal proceedings:
- Obstructing career advancement;
- Denying or obstructing employment in a private company;
- Preventing employee promotion or hindering other forms of professional benefit;
- Denying the opening or maintenance of a current account, granting credit, or any other service by financial institutions.
The original text included penalties for the crime of slander, but this provision was removed in the report presented by Deputy Cláudio Cajado (PP-BA). This was the main point of controversy among lawmakers.
Another section was also removed, which defined the penalty for anyone who impedes or obstructs access to any duly qualified person for any position in the Direct or Indirect Administration, as well as for public service concessionaires, except when there is an express legal prohibition to that effect.
“When a politically exposed person or their relative is denied registration simply because they are related to a deputy, mayor, or councilor… What the bill proposes is that any decision regarding the opening of an account or credit be justified,” defended rapporteur Cláudio Cajado.
Deputy Erika Kokay (PT-DF) criticized: “The first thing that stands out is that we are legislating in our own interest. We are here legislating to create an unjustifiable shield or protection for politically exposed people, and we are doing it hastily.”
Voting
Here is how each party and parliamentary bloc voted in the Chamber:
MDB, PSD, Republicanos, Podemos, and PSC bloc: Yes;
União Brasil, PP, PS
B, PDT, PSDB-Cidadania federation, Avante, Patriota, and Solidariedade bloc: Yes;
PL: Yes;
PT-PCdoB-PV federation: Not specified;
PSOL-Rede federation: No;
Novo: No;
Government: No recommendation;
Opposition: No;
Majority: Not specified;
Minority: No.
Source: https://www.metropoles.com/brasil/politica-brasil/camara-aprova-pl-que-criminaliza-discriminacao-de-politicos