The IPU Denounces that Legislating for Self-Interest Is Corruption

VITORIA, Brasil, November 30, 2006

The Moderator of the IPU, Reverend Manoel de Souza Miranda, explained to ALC that the Taxi Heathrow Airport Open Letter is in response to proposals for salary increases in the Judiciary and Legislative offices. The National Congress has received a proposal for a 5% increase in the salaries of the Ministers of the Federal Supreme Court (STF in Spanish), from their present 24.500 Reales (nearly 11.400 Dollars) to 25.700 Reales (11.950 Dollars) in 2007.

The Federal Constitution establishes the salaries received by the ministers of the Federal Supreme Court as being the legal maximum salary level in the public service. Apart from the cascade effect that the increase in the salaries of the ministers would cause, the legislators want a 91% increase in their present monthly salaries of 12,800 Reales (5,950 Dollars), so that they are on the same level as those received by the Federal Supreme Court’s ministers.

“The legislators are subordinated to the people – who are sovereign – but now in practice that is denied. Do not turn yourselves into lords over the people, excluding them, by becoming superior to them,” asks the IPU’s letter signed by the church’s moderator. The letter demands of the three powers of state which exercise delegated authority and are paid for from income received through taxes, “terrible taxes,” a “maximum of decency in their handling of public matters.” 

In a prophetic tone, the IPU’s Open Letter reminds the three powers of state that God will take revenge for himself for all that under the guise of being a public mandate, has been diverted from its correct and worthy purpose. “Every child, each elderly person, each ill person, each person unjustly dealt with, will have their blood shouting out and their fingers pointed at the criminals of all origins, times and places,” remarks the letter.

The letter also says that God is merciful and announces that the IPU lifts up its prayers on behalf of the public authorities that bring about justice and suffer threats because of their striving for the best interests of the people. Nevertheless, that will not avoid asking the Lord to bring about infallible justice “on each person who deviates in the fulfillment of their duty.”

The IPU recommends that politicians and public servants seek the truth and justice, emphasizing that, with God, “the cord will not always break at the end of the weakest.”