Parliamentarians also focus on the INSS CPI and the Organized Crime CPI, which should hear those involved in the case of the financial institution
The National Congress resumes activities this Monday (23), after a two-week break for Carnival, with a focus on discussing the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union (EU) and the end of the 6×1 work scale. Furthermore, parliamentarians advance the INSS CPI by you Organized Crime CPIwhich must hear those involved in the Banco Master case.
This Monday, Congress expected the owner of Banco Master, Daniel Vorcaro, to appear before the Joint Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) that investigates irregularities in INSS retirement discounts. However, the banker canceled his testimony after the Minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) André Mendonça, the new rapporteur of the case at the Court, made his presence optional.
Vorcaro’s interlocutors told Estadão, with reservations, that the banker will not appear at the CPI, because parliamentarians worked together to transform his testimony into a “circus” and “ladder” to the electoral platform. The banker’s defense informed that he would only go to the CPI if he were to speak “only” about the object of the investigations, such as the issue of payroll loans investigated by the Commission.
In place of the banker, the CPI will hear businesswoman Ingrid Pikinskeni Morais Santos, who in 2025 was the target of search and seizure warrants from the Federal Police in Operation Without Discount.
Vorcaro must also reschedule his testimony at the Senate’s Economic Affairs Committee (CAE), scheduled for this Tuesday, 24th. The banker should answer questions about the irregular operations that led to the Master’s extrajudicial liquidation process by the Central Bank, in November last year. Although Vorcaro’s advisors argue that CAE has a “more technical” environment, his presence is not yet confirmed in the testimony.
The Banco Master case should also be dealt with on Wednesday (25), at the Organized Crime CPI in the Senate. The members of the Commission must vote on requests to summon Vorcaro and his partners, as well as family members of ministers of the Federal Supreme Court involved with the bank.
End of scale 6×1.
Due to the election year, parliamentarians are prioritizing strategic themes for the October election. Among them is the end of the 6×1 scale, considered by the government as essential for the re-election campaign of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).
The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), stated on his social networks that the PEC rapporteur on the 6×1 scale at the Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ) will be appointed at the beginning of this week.
“In addition to listening to the workers, the union representatives, we also want to listen to those who employ, the businesspeople, so that all of this is conducted without radicalism, without imposition and without improvisation, with a commitment to our country”, said the deputy in a video published on Sunday (22).
If approved, the proposal will end the 6×1 model (six days of work and one day off) and adopt the 5×2 (five days of work and two days off), without a salary reduction.
For businesspeople, there is fear that the change will bring a loss of competitiveness and uncertainty regarding the ability to maintain the level of production. Entities in the industrial sector point out “serious losses to the economy” if any changes to the working day occur.
On the other hand, analysts defend the reduction of working hours with the argument that more rest can improve the health, engagement and qualifications of workers, resulting in indirect gains in efficiency.
Mercosur-EU Agreement
Hugo Motta also announced the vote on the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union in reaction to the new tariff announced by the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
“With the uncertainties surrounding the imposition of tariffs by the United States, Brazil is left to fight for predictability in international trade relations. Therefore, we will prioritize the vote on the Mercosur-EU agreement for next week”, wrote Motta in X on Saturday (21).
The president of the Chamber selected deputy Marcos Pereira (SP), president of the Republicans and former minister of Industry, Foreign Trade and Services, as the proposal’s rapporteur.
Mercosur and the European Union signed, on January 17th of this year, the agreement that creates the largest free trade area in the world, with 720 million inhabitants and a GDP of €21.7 trillion (R$136 trillion). The agreement needs to be confirmed by the legislatures of the countries involved. In Brazil, the text must be analyzed by the Brazilian Representation in the Mercosur Parliament (Parlasul) and then by the plenary in the Chamber. The agreement also needs to be approved by the Senate.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
