Deputies and Businessmen ask for maintenance of Perse

Parliamentarians and businesspeople defended this Wednesday (27), during a general committee in the Plenary of the Chamber of Deputies, the full maintenance of the Events Sector Emergency Resumption Program (PERSE).

The end of PERSEis provided for in two provisional measures (1202/23 and 1208/24) sent by the Executive Branch to the National Congress. The Lula government’s initiative has been the target of criticism since December, when the first of the MPs appeared.

In March, after a meeting with the president of the Chamber, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), and party leaders, the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, backed down and promised to send a bill to the Legislature to create a leaner version of the program.

Crisis caused by the pandemic

For the president of the Brazilian Hotel Industry Association (ABIH), Manuel Linhares, the end of PERSE would bring legal uncertainty. “What is the point in cutting off the legs of those who are rising from the worst crisis in history? [pandemia]?”, he asked.

According to deputy Paulo Litro (PSD-PR), president of the Chamber’s Tourism Committee, the Tourism and events segments currently together account for 12% of GDP, maintaining around 10 million formal jobs.

“During the Covid-19 pandemic, the events sector lost R$230 billion in revenue; Tourism, R$475 billion. If it weren’t for this program, thousands and thousands of jobs would have been lost.”

Deputy Paulo Litro (PSD-PR), president of the Chamber’s Tourism Committee

“The program is necessary for the recovery and boost of relevant sectors in GDP”, stated deputy Gilson Daniel (PODE-ES), president of the Mixed Parliamentary Front for the Brazilian Hotel Industry.

Created in 2021 to completely exempt taxes on events, hotels and tourism, among others, PERSE would last two years, in order to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2023, it ended up being extended by Congress.

Tax Waiver

According to the Ministry of Finance, the tax waiver generated by PERSE exceeded the initial estimate of R$4.4 billion. Preliminary data indicates that it would be between R$17 billion and R$32 billion in 2023, hence the initial idea of ​​ending the program.

When criticizing the Treasury, the president of the Integrated System of Parks and Tourist Attractions, Murilo Pascoal, said that PERSE resulted in around R$20 billion in tax transactions. “The program must be monitored, not limited,” he said.

In the general committee, there was no one who defended the government. In addition to Gilson Daniel, deputies Altineu Côrtes (PL-RJ), Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), Rogéria Santos (Republicanos-BA) and Vitor Lippi (PSDB-SP) requested the meeting.

From the Câmara de Notícias Agency