CCJ approves PEC that protects research institutes from political interference

At Constitution, Justice and Citizenship Committee of Federal Senate (CCJ) was approved, this Wednesday (June 1st), the PEC 27/2021, which defines as permanent institutions of the State, the National Institute of Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira (Inep), Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the Institute of Applied Economic Research (Ipea), the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Capes) and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). The text goes on for analysis by the Senate Plenary.

The bill's rapporteur, Senator Jorge Kajuru (Podemos-GO), considering these bodies essential to the development of the nation, suggested the inclusion of amendments to the original text, authored by senator Leila Barros (Cidadania – DF), including in the list of institutions with greater legal protection and autonomy, the CNPq and the Capes. A PEC it aims at shielding political interference and legal instrumentation so that institutions are preserved from instability and administrative discontinuity.

In addition, the proposal aims to guarantee technical, administrative, budgetary and financial autonomy to entities. The bodies will undergo a regimental change that will establish criteria for the appointment of directors, even if they continue to be appointed by the President of the Republic, who must comply with technical criteria and the selected names must be submitted to a hearing and approved by the Senate. It also prescribes a four-year term for officers admitting only one reappointment, in order to ensure that their real missions are fulfilled.

Senator Kajuru justified that such decision aims to guarantee the quality and reliability of the information produced by these institutions, for the evaluation and formulation of public policies that generate progress in economic and social indicators that can improve the well-being of the population.

The rapporteur also stated that the political interventions that have been taking place in these institutions are unacceptable, therefore the initiative is very opportune to make changes to the Constitution, so that their functional, technical, financial, administrative, patrimonial and budget.

The author of the project, senator Leila, warned that there is a threat of dismantling hanging over these bodies, which greatly increases the concern, and that the PEC is the best way to ensure the integrity of official information about Brazil produced by the same. In this sense, Leila congratulated the Commission for approving the proposal that is now being submitted for approval by the Plenary.

The institutions benefiting from the constitutionalization of their autonomy involve important functions that promote national development, such as the Inep, which conducts national assessments and oversees the quality of education, the IBGE, which is responsible for producing the country's statistics, the CNPq, which Its main responsibilities are to promote scientific and technological research and promote the development of research and the training of research professionals in Brazil, and Capes, which implements actions for the expansion and consolidation of stricto sensu postgraduate courses (master's and doctorate degree).

To date, these institutions are linked to the Ministries of Economy (IBGE and Ipea), Education (Inep and Capes), Science and Technology, Innovations and Communication (CNPq).

PEC 27/2021 promotes the constitutional change that makes these bodies permanent institutions of the State, with full technical, administrative, financial, budgetary, in addition to having a new definition of purposes and competences, with their careers and positions characterized as typical of the State, to be outlined through laws complementary to its organization, and reformulated the mandates of its leaders, entrusting the Senate with the approval of those appointed by the President of the Republic to exercise the Board of these entities.

Source: Senate Agency