The government signed a provisional measure releasing around half a billion reais to combat fires and burning.
Given the extent of the tragedy, there may be little money and, in any case, it is already late. Therefore, its meaning is much more political, although, in practice, all help is welcome.
The money had been authorized by a Supreme Court minister, Flávio Dino. In a move welcomed by the Executive, the Judiciary said that this money does not count for the purposes of fiscal balance, that is, it is a license to spend, since there was no more space in the budget.
It is strange that a Supreme Court minister now says what is or is not in the fiscal framework.
But the head of the Executive and his Finance Minister did not seem to feel any embarrassment. On the contrary, they gave the impression of satisfaction with the Judiciary interfering with the Executive, as they did not need to go to Congress to request the opening of extraordinary credit to combat fires.
In fact, on the issue of fires, the Supreme Court is providing cover for a recurring practice by the Executive, which some call fiscal shortcuts and others creative accounting, but with the same result: finding a way to circumvent fiscal constraints — which are already loose.
The need to show service in the face of the fires became an urgent image problem for the government. Creative accounting will also become a problem, but it will take a little longer.
