Communications Minister defended subsidies to hold up diesel oil prices
Communications Minister Fábio Faria said that fuel prices hold the greatest growth in voting intentions for President Jair Bolsonaro (PL). He stated, however, that the Chief Executive will be the winner in the elections.
The statement was given in an interview with the newspaper. Folha de S.Pauloheld on Wednesday (25.May.2022) and released this Saturday (28.May.2022).
O PowerDate showed on Wednesday (May 25, 2022) that the difference between Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) and Bolsonaro in an eventual 2nd round of the presidential elections between the 2 remains stable at 11 percentage points. The survey was conducted from the 22nd to the 24th of May.
“What is still holding [Bolsonaro] is the price of fuel, but even so it is growing. If it hadn’t been for Ukraine’s war with Russia and if it hadn’t had this growth in inflation, fuel, food prices, it would already be at the front, skyrocketing. He will win, even with that.”declared the minister.
According to him, Bolsonaro grows in the polls even with the rise in fuel prices. And that, if there were no pressure caused by the war in Europe and the covid-19 pandemic, he would have 60% of the voting intentions.
Faria defended the adoption of a subsidy for diesel to avoid an eventual strike by truck drivers. He said that Petrobras’ profit of R$44 billion is a “Mr Dividend”and that the company could use R$ 15 billion to lower diesel prices.
“I’ve heard the market saying no. If it’s something around R$ 1.5 billion per month, it wouldn’t have such a big impact. These are things that are being analyzed.”, declared the minister. He said that Guedes is against it.
“I never discussed this matter with him. [Guedes], nor with the president. I’m saying it’s a reasonable option.”he said.
The minister said that the change in the presidency of Petrobras does not indicate that there will be a “craziness” in the management of the company and the pricing policy. He acknowledged that the market is afraid of possible interference in the state-owned company.
He said that Minister Paulo Guedes (Economy) has always been “strong” in terms of importance for President Bolsonaro, even with “wear” in “some divergent thoughts”.
“Brazil did well in the economic policy adopted by the government in the pandemic, in relation to other countries, and it [Guedes] was growing. But the president listens to Roberto Campos Neto [presidente do BC], [Gustavo] Montezano [presidente do BNDES]. Listen to everyone and don’t say what you’re going to do. It’s always like that”declared Fábio Faria.
ELECTIONS
The minister said that Jair Bolsonaro has a desire for transparency in the elections, and that the Armed Forces could help in this process.
The TSE (Superior Electoral Court) rejected the suggestions of the Armed Forces for the electoral process. Bolsonaro said that the suggestions made by the Armed Forces for the October electoral process cannot be ruled out by the Superior Electoral Court.
The minister defended a meeting of the Armed Forces with the TSE and the president to create a public hearing “to see if white smoke would come out of there”.
“No one wants to have an election who might think the result was not real. I even believed that the TSE was very close to accepting the suggestions of the Armed Forces, then there was a turning point”, declared Fábio Faria. The minister said that the Armed Forces have always been close to President Jair Bolsonaro.
STF AND IMPARTIALITY
Fábio Faria was asked about the statement by Vice President Hamilton Mourão, who called STF (Federal Supreme Court) Minister Alexandre de Moraes partial.
He said he won’t fall into the “trap” to comment. “I have relationships with all Powers, with politicians from all parties. Brazil is becoming unbearable, people are not respecting those who think differently. And anyone who thinks differently is practically becoming your enemy forever.”he said.
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