Ana Amélia calls attention to dollar fluctuations.

The Senate Agency Senator Ana Amélia (PP-RS) said on Monday that the pressure on the domestic exchange market requires increased attention from economic authorities because it threatens the country's development and the fundamentals of the Brazilian economy, with impacts on the trade balance and the domestic market.

"The exchange rate area is a kind of thermometer to measure the fever of the economy. And the exchange rate is the most sensitive area because it is directly related to issues of confidence in economic policy," the senator warned in her statement.

According to her, the clearer, firmer, and more reliable the economic policies are, the less room there will be for speculation and harm to the economy. Ana Amélia said she believes that pessimism cannot be combated with propaganda and stated that real actions are needed in the economy, which cannot be conducted merely by "putting out fires" without a policy of continuity.

The parliamentarian pointed out that the Brazilian currency was the one that depreciated the most in 2013 among the currencies of emerging countries, according to analyses by exchange market experts and data from risk agencies, the Central Bank of Brazil, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Data presented by the senator indicate that, while the depreciations of the Argentine and Mexican currencies against the dollar were 10,9% and 0,6%, respectively, the fall of the Real was 17,6%.

– These are fluctuations in the exchange rate that are worrying. It's important to remember that Brazil has been experiencing low economic growth and a lack of confidence from some international investors.

Ana Amélia used Rio Grande do Sul as an example of the negative impacts of the currency crisis. Although it benefits exporters, the high exchange rate affects the costs of inputs. Most of these, such as fertilizers and pesticides, come from abroad. According to the senator, these inputs represent about 70% of farmers' expenses.

The senator also criticized the government's premature debate on the 2014 election campaign, a position echoed by Senator Cristovam Buarque (PDT-DF) in a side note. According to Ana Amélia, this premature approach contaminates the economic process.
Vetos

In the same statement, Ana Amélia asked parliamentarians to pay attention to the consideration of presidential vetoes, scheduled for this Tuesday (20). Ana Amélia cited losses to industries caused by the vetoes on the end of the additional 10% fine on the Guarantee Fund for Length of Service (FGTS) and the extension of Reintegra, a program that returns 3% of the revenue from sales of manufactured products to the exporter. The session of the National Congress in which the vetoes will be considered is scheduled for 19 pm.