Minister of Transport countered criticism made by the owner of Cosan to the Lula government for violating laws to increase revenue; he stated that it is necessary to be careful not to have a “distorted view of the nation”
The Minister of Transport, Renan Filhoresponded indirectly to the harsh criticism made against the government by businessman Rubens Ometto, president of the Board of Directors of Cosan. He stated that there are businesspeople opposed to the president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), without mentioning names, and that there is a new moment in the country’s democratic debate.
“We are living in a very new moment. Today we even have large businessmen opposing the government. There are big businessmen who support the government. But it is exactly this democratic and clear debate that will make Brazil find a way”, he stated. He insinuated that businesspeople against the government have a distorted view of the country.
The statement was made on Saturday (June 8, 2024) during participation in the Annual Forum of Sphere Group, held in Guarujá (SP). The minister participated in a panel at the event that took place following the debate in which Ometto spoke. The businessman had said that Lula’s government disrespects laws to increase revenue.
Renan Filho opened his participation in the event referring to the previous panel: “We have to be careful not to have a distorted view of a nation”.
Watch the video with Renan Filho’s statement (3min41sec):
Although the statement was a clear response to Ometto, the businessman is not exactly an opponent of the government. In reality, he is seen as an ally of the PT member. He is a member of the Council for Sustainable Economic and Social Development, known as Conselhão.
During his participation in the Esfera event, Renan Filho did not speak directly about the criticism of tax increases or disrespect for laws, but he said that the view that Lula defends that the State is the biggest driver of the economy is false.
“President Lula does not think that the public sector should lead Brazil’s growth. He never said that. On the contrary. He is the one who made the most concessions [...]. So this debate needs to be a little deeper so that we can dialogue with reality. Now, from an investment point of view, the big secret is to combine public and private efforts.”
RUBENS OMETTO’S CRITICISM
Shortly before the panel with the participation of Renan Filho, a debate entitled “Overviews of the nation” brought together Rubens Ometto and the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas, as well as the minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, and the president from TCU, Bruno Dantas.
The owner of Cosan (Brazilian conglomerate with businesses in the areas of sugar, alcohol, energy, lubricants and logistics) stated that Palácio do Planalto and the entire PT team adopt a strategy that “disrespect” the spirit of the laws passed by Congress.
He also declared that the spending control system known as the fiscal framework leads the economic team to “furiously increasing revenue” to spend more. “As it is, with the government wanting to get involved, wanting to tax everything”declared, “it does not give”.
Watch the video with Ometto’s statements at the Esfera event (4min47s):
Ometto complained that the government always wants to raise more money, violating the spirit of the laws. According to him, the Lula government ends up creating a bad chain reaction in society. “The example has to come from above, and when the example is bad, it contaminates the entire organization”, said the businessman, one of the richest in the country. And asked: “How are we going to improve our country if the highest authority does everything it can to not obey the laws?”.
When saying that the Lula government goes against what the laws determine, Ometto cited recent rule changes that affect companies.
“It happened with the change in the Carf rule, with the change in the presumed credit of PIS/Cofins credits this week and with the exemption from the payroll. They are never worried about interpreting the legislator’s idea. They are worried about biting, biting and they are doing it.”he declared.
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