Actions by the Courts of Accounts to minimize effects of coronavirus

Abstract

This study aims to highlight the efforts made by the Brazilian Courts of Accounts (CAs) during the COVID-19 pandemic to collaborate with its jurisdictional authorities, civil servants, and society to face its effects. Descriptive and qualitative research was carried out, analyzing the legislation issued by the CAs to evaluate their actions. Among the findings, it was observed that the CAs took administrative and pedagogical measures to protect the public, such as the suspension or restriction of face-to-face service. Also, the courts suspended collective events, face-to-face meetings, and travel, adopted telework, limited expenditures and distance learning courses. Among the procedural measures, Plenary Sessions or Chambers, procedural deadlines, and remittance of accounts were suspended. Finally, the activities of guidance and monitoring were conducted under a series of guidelines and recommendations created collaboratively with other agencies and branches of government, guiding public spending, the acquisition and contracting of services with no bidding requirements, among other procedures. It is concluded that the set of measures implemented by the CAs shows a change in the traditional status of subsequent control of public accounts - which gives rise to punitive action - for prior and concurrent control, with recommendations, inspections, and monitoring, when the manager still has instruments to amend errors and avoid waste and misapplication of public resources.

Keywords:
COVID-19; pandemic; control; calamity; actions