Prosecution office opposes Brazilian bill to freeze investments

Brazil's Federal Prosecution Office on Friday opposed a federal government bill to limit federal expenditures for 20 years.

The highly controversial bill foresees that federal expenditures should not grow beyond the inflation rate. Opponents criticized that investments on education and health care, for example, would not be enough as they are notoriously under-funded in Brazil.

The country has a growing population, with a significant share of children in need of schooling, and the share of youngsters with access to university education, so expenses with education would need to be increased in the next decades; in addition, Brazil has a growing population of elders, which will most likely require more investment in the health care system.

The Federal Prosecution Office said the bill is flagrantly illegal and violates the principle of the separation of powers.

"The proposed alterations are flagrantly unconstitutional, for offending the independence and the autonomy of the legislative and judiciary, and for offending the autonomy of the prosecution office and the other constitutional institutions in the justice system," said the office.

The bill was approved by a special commission in the House and will be submitted to the House and Senate for approval. Endi