"Mantega is the one who runs the economy," says Dilma.
"No, sir. I run the country. Minister Mantega is in charge of the economy. I govern Brazil," said President Dilma, when questioned by journalists during an event in Ceará.
Danilo Macedo
Reporter from Agência Brasil
Brasilia – President Dilma Rousseff said today (18) that Finance Minister Guido Mantega is the one who runs the country's economy. She answered a question from journalists after participating in the graduation ceremony of 3 students from the National Program for Access to Technical Education and Employment (Pronatec), in Fortaleza. “No, sir. I run the country. The economy is run by Minister Mantega. I direct Brazil,” she replied.
Yesterday (17), after meeting with the president, Minister Mantega said that new spending to improve urban public transport, the primary cause of the demonstrations that took over the country's streets, will have to be accompanied by cuts in other areas. The minister reinforced the government's determination to maintain its commitment to fiscal responsibility.
By next Monday (22), the additional cut in resources from the General Budget of the Union will be defined. The freeze is planned so that the government can reach the primary surplus target of 2,3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The primary surplus is the savings that the government makes to pay the interest on the public debt.
In May, the government announced a budget cut of R$ 28 billion for this year. In the first two years of President Dilma Rousseff's term, the cuts reached R$ 50 billion and R$ 55 billion, respectively.