Brasília

The Jair Bolsonaro government announced that it will ask Congress to recognize the state of public calamity in the country due to the coronavirus.

The measure, valid until December 31, 2020, will be adopted in order to increase public spending. If Congress recognizes public calamity, the government will no longer be required to observe the spending target.

Jair Bolsonaro after meeting with Paulo Guedes (Foto: Pedro Ladeira/Folhapress, PODER) - Folhapress

The forecast for 2020 was a primary deficit of R $ 124.1 billion.

A note released by the Secretary of Communications said the request is being made because of "permanent monitoring of the Covid-19 pandemic," to "protect the health and jobs of Brazilians." There is an expectation that there will be a drop in revenue for businesses and the government.

According to the Planalto Palace organ, the government "reaffirms its commitment to the structural reforms necessary for the transformation of the Brazilian State, to maintain the spending ceiling as an anchor for a fiscal regime that ensures confidence and investments to recover our dynamics. sustainable growth ".

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

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