In Presidente Prudente, in the interior of São Paulo, this Thursday (14), the handover of confiscated lands to large landowners in the state will begin. The event, produced by the São Paulo State Land Institute Foundation (Itesp), will be attended by governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans).
The expectation is that the government will confirm the delivery of 10 thousand hectares of land, as permitted by Law 17,557, the result of the approval of the project that became known as PL da Gralagem. This area represents 33 farms, which since last year have been waiting for the commercialization of the lands that they confess to occupying illegally, as they are vacant.
In an interview with Brasil de Fato, in August this year, Yamila Goldfarb, PhD in Geography from the University of São Paulo (USP) and member of the Brazilian Agrarian Reform Association (Abra), explained the constitutional precept of vacant lands. “These lands have a constitutional precept to comply with: all vacant land must be destined for indigenous land, quilombola lands, conservation units or agrarian reform settlements,” she said.
:: Tarcísio de Freitas Government: slowness of the STF favors regularization of illegal lands ::
Public lands were sold by the São Paulo government to landowners with discounts of 78% to 90%. The estimate is that the rebate represents, in absolute values, R$150 million.
Law 17,557 was questioned by the PT, in November 2022, through a Direct Action of Unconstitutionality (ADI) filed with the Federal Supreme Court (STF). Minister Cármen Lúcia was selected as rapporteur for the process.
However, almost a year later, Lúcia keeps the ADI in her drawer. Although she signaled that she would present the report in August this year, she did not present the document that would force the STF plenary to give an opinion on the constitutionality of Law 17,557.
While watching Lúcia’s delays, the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) and the Attorney General’s Office (AGU) have already declared in the ADI files that they consider the São Paulo law unconstitutional.
Editing: Nicolau Soares
