Government sets aside emergency budget for firefighting
By the end of the year, the Brazilian federal government will have a climate emergency budget at its disposal to deal with the forest fires that are affecting around 60 percent of the country. Supreme Court Justice Flávio Dino authorized the government to issue extraordinary credits beyond fiscal limits to fight the blazes.
With the authorization, the government will be able to send Congress a presidential decree with only the amount of credit to be allocated. Even though, by definition, extraordinary credits are outside the primary deficit target and the spending limit of the current fiscal framework, the justice’s decision prevents spending from falling back within the limitations if Congress does not approve the decree.
In practice, the move creates a spending model similar to the one adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Congress approved a special budget for efforts against the coronavirus, dubbed “War Budget.”
Justice Flávio Dino also relaxed the rules for maintaining and hiring temporary firefighters. These agents, who have received training and are familiar with the area, can be rehired instantly until the end of the year.
Federal Police
In the 40-page decision, Justice Dino also ordered the use of a special fund dedicated to Federal Police operations to mobilize resources and allow the agency to treat inquiries into burn-offs and fires as a priority.
