April 6, 2022

13:04

Bruno Pacheco – Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – Activists and cultural activists regretted the decision on Tuesday, 5, of President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) to veto the Paulo Gustavo Law, which would transfer R$ 3.8 billion for emergency actions in the culture sector impacted by the pandemic of Covid-19 throughout the country. In the federal government’s justification, the measure goes against the public interest and “would weaken the rules of control, efficiency, management, and transparency”, with risks of breaching the so-called spending cap.

“Nothing surprising in this decision. Bolsonaro is an enemy of culture and he makes a point of showing it”, lamented cultural producer, human rights activist, and black activist Michelle Andrews.

The cultural producer, singer and composer Sammliz also said that the veto was nothing new. On social networks, the artist criticized President Bolsonaro. “Bolsonaro vetoes the Paulo Gustavo Law, but has plenty of money for pastor and more obscure mamatas. Nothing new and we hope to see him soon, and forever, buried in the trash can of this country’s history,” she wrote on Twitter.

For professor, poet, producer and cultural consultant Vilmar Oliveira, by vetoing the Paulo Gustavo Law in its entirety, President Bolsonaro reinforces his contempt for musicians and other Brazilian artists who make up the country’s cultural network.

“By vetoing the Paulo Gustavo Law in its entirety – which was already expected – Bolsonaro reinforces his contempt for musicians, producers, actors, for popular culture, and an entire cultural network in the country. Let’s fight”, said Vilmar Oliveira.

Veto

PL 73/21, authored by Senator Paulo Rocha (PT-PA), was nicknamed after actor Paulo Gustavo as a way to honor the artist, who was a victim of Covid-19 in 2021. The text had been sent for sanction on March 15, after a vote in the Senate approved amendments from the House. According to the proposal, R$ 3.86 billion from the National Culture Fund would be released for financial support from the Union to the states, the Federal District, and the municipalities. Congress, however, can still overturn the veto.

Since the beginning, however, the Bolsonaro family has worked to veto the text. Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL/RJ) even said on March 15 that he no longer wants a Parliamentary Investigation Commission (CPI) of Rouanet and that he would work against the text. On social networks, the federal lawmaker positioned himself about the law.

“We do not want another CPI of Rouanet, but now with the artist’s name. Let’s work for the veto in the House and its maintenance”, said Eduardo Bolsonaro, in a post on Twitter last month.

After the veto, the Special Secretariat for Communication of the Presidency of the Republic used social networks to talk about the cultural sector in the country. According to the folder, the federal government continues “seeking rational and fair solutions for the culture, events, and tourism sectors.

“Emergency measures to avoid the closure of companies and unemployment, billionaire transfers, and a fairer Rouanet Law are among the actions,” the secretariat announced in a post on Twitter.