Temer: pause in economic growth is temporary.

Camila Maciel - Reporter for Agência Brasil

The Vice President of the Republic, Michel Temer, lamented today (27) that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP, the sum of goods and services produced in the country) result represented a pause in economic growth in 2014. "Ideally, there wouldn't be this pause. But, often, it's precisely to get back on track and go at high speed. Now, as I preached here to businessmen, what we must do is maintain optimism," he declared, after a lecture on political reform, at the São Paulo Housing Union (Secovi-SP).

The Brazilian economy grew 0,1% in 2014 compared to the previous year. GDP closed the year at R$ 5,52 trillion, according to data released this Friday by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

Temer assessed that the year reflects temporary difficulties. "You know that Brazil is going through some difficulties, but they are being overcome, precisely because of the government's actions. You have all these adjustments, which although they seem restrictive, are actually aimed at achieving a healthy economy this year, 2015. Is it worrying? Of course it is, but it's surmountable. Of course it is," he declared.

During the lecture at Secovi-SP, Temer reported that he maintained dialogue with the opposition to the government in Congress to negotiate probable changes in Provisional Measure (MP) 672/2015, which deals with the minimum wage readjustment policy from 2016 to 2019, which will receive amendments until next Tuesday (31).

"A few days ago, I called my colleagues in the opposition and said that we have to distinguish between the government and the State. If it's the government, I don't dare call, because I have to respect the opposition to the government. But this is a matter of State," he pointed out. He said he expects the MP to be approved, but must obey the decisions of the Legislature.

He denied that the government is clashing with the PMDB. "The government's projects have been approved by the National Congress. What has been happening is that Congress is setting its own agenda. I agree that this is very natural. I just said: the government governs with the support of the Legislature. Now, the government's issues, although much debated and sometimes even improved by the National Congress, have been approved. There is no problem with that," he pointed out.

Temer reaffirms his support for private financing in election campaigns.

The vice-president reaffirmed his support for maintaining private campaign financing in a likely political reform. According to him, many parliamentarians advocate for public financing, but when newspapers publish that R$ 120 billion will be needed for the campaign, for example, they will also highlight how many schools and hospitals could be built with that money. "Public financing is complicated for our system. I think we have to defend private financing," he declared, while participating in a debate on the topic at the São Paulo Housing Union (Secovi-SP).

The end of corporate financing for political campaigns came to the forefront, especially after the corruption allegations at Petrobras, with the payment of bribes by companies that are being investigated in Operation Lava Jato. The vice-president's statement differs from the position expressed by the Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, Miguel Rosseto, who defends public financing as a mechanism to combat corruption.

Temer also defended the majority vote for federal deputies, the so-called "distritão" system. "I have argued, with relative success, that we must change the proportional system," he declared. He believes that, due to the electoral quotient, candidates with few votes are taking office, which is not representative of the popular will. Regarding political reform, he proposes coinciding elections and ending reelection, with terms becoming five years. Temer acknowledges, however, that the main obstacle to advancing the reform is the individualism of parliamentarians.

The vice-president does not see the current political scenario as an obstacle to the progress of the agenda in Congress. "This political crisis we are going through, which shouldn't be a concern, helps the idea of ​​political reform," which he estimates should be voted on this year. "Every legal fact arises when everyday events repeat themselves, mature, and at a given moment, the need for regulation on the subject becomes apparent. Today there is a maturation in this issue, which will now move forward," he estimated. He denied that the country is experiencing an institutional crisis, and described the moment as "a transitory political and economic difficulty."