Centrist leaders in Brazil's lower house want to avoid voting on a bill regulating extra perks and supersalaries for public servants unless President Lula's government engages directly. The Supreme Federal Court suspended these benefits and ordered Congress to legislate within 60 days, but the deadline is deemed too short in an election year. The STF plenary is judging the decisions this week.
The centrist bloc in Brazil's lower house conditions discussion on regulating penduricalhos — extra perks and benefits that raise public servants' salaries above the constitutional cap of R$ 46.3 thousand — to active involvement by the federal government. Leaders interviewed by Folha on background say the House should not handle the thorny issue alone, especially in 2026, an election year, to avoid public opinion backlash.
In February, STF Justice Flávio Dino suspended penduricalhos across the three branches, allowing only expressly law-provided indemnities outside the cap. He banned new laws legalizing such payments and gave Congress 60 days to enact clear rules. Another justice, Gilmar Mendes, suspended on February 23 extr-cap benefits set by state laws for the Judiciary and Public Prosecutor's Office. Dino called the practice an "anomalous multiplication" of benefits acting as "salaries disguised as indemnities," breaching legality and morality principles. Mendes remarked that "the cap has become the floor."
Penduricalhos encompass process backlog gratuities, unproven travel allowances, and cash-converted leaves, such as compensatory leave granting one day off per three worked. Chamber President Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), after a February 24 meeting with STF President Edson Fachin and leaders like Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP), advocated Executive involvement for a "structured discussion." Attendees noted the 60-day deadline as "practically unfeasible" amid electoral priorities.
The Lula government prioritizes issues like the Security PEC, showing no interest. PT leader Pedro Uczai (SC) plans to request a vote on the party's bill, but as a partisan initiative. The STF began judging the injunctions on February 25, with a trend toward confirmation, possibly with caveats. The PGR, via Paulo Gonet, argued against endorsement, claiming overreach. Magistrates' associations cited salary disparities and unappealing pay.
Columnist Sérgio Rodrigues lambasted penduricalhos as tricks undermining republicanism, with judges averaging R$ 80 thousand net monthly.
