Lack of money paralyzes FAB planes and puts ministers in line at airports

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has reduced the operation of planes used to transport ministers and authorities due to lack of money after the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) blocked R$2.6 billion from the Defense Ministry's budget.

According to an investigation published this Wednesday (25) by Folha de S. Paulo , seven of the ten planes for official use are grounded due to lack of fuel and maintenance. Only three remain in operation.

In a statement, the Air Force confirmed that “the budgetary restrictions currently faced impact not only the refueling of aircraft, but the entire fleet operation and maintenance cycle.”

According to the FAB, these effects “include limitations in the acquisition of lubricants, spare parts and in carrying out engine repairs, which compromises the full availability of resources, making it difficult to fulfill the mission”.

According to the investigation, the reduced number of aircraft in operation is leading ministers and authorities to use commercial flights to travel. The legislation allows heads of strategic departments such as Justice, Finance, Civil House and Defense to have priority in the use of jets.

Also at the top of the list are the presidents of the Chamber of Deputies, the Federal Senate and the Supreme Federal Court (STF). The other ministers must wait for an aircraft to become available — which has become increasingly rare, according to the investigation.

This scenario could become even more critical with the overturn, on Wednesday (25), of the decree that dealt with the increase in IOF by Congress, in a defeat for the government to increase revenues. With this, it is estimated that there will be a new budget blockage of around R$ 10 billion.

“We know that this is indeed a defeat for the government, but it was built by many hands. Because the Chamber of Deputies voted significantly, the Senate would also vote significantly. I think now is the time to talk more and build the necessary convergences for Brazil. We helped the government more than we hindered it. I think we only helped and, on some points like this, we disagreed,” said Senate President Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP) after the vote.

Lula and Finance Minister Fernando Haddad will have a meeting this Thursday (26), at 9:30 am, to discuss what will be done from now on, both in the government's relationship with Congress and new measures to comply with the rules of the fiscal framework this year.