Josias: the political and economic areas of the government are already speaking different languages.
Journalist Josias de Souza criticized on Thursday, the 21st, the conflicting statements made by the Minister of the Civil House, Eliseu Padilha, and those defended by the Minister of Finance, Henrique Meirelles; "Two months later, the Finance Minister's shield is already showing cracks," said Josias, referring to the resistance within the government to implementing budget cuts; the journalist warns: "Every government has its intrigues. But forcing a Finance Minister to divide his time between managing the accounts and following the opinions of the president's advisors is the best recipe for failure."
247 - Journalist Josias de Souza criticized on Thursday, the 21st, the conflicting statements within Michel Temer's interim government regarding the economic policy adopted.
"At the beginning of his interim presidency, Michel Temer established a guideline: regarding the economy, Henrique Meirelles would speak on behalf of the government. Two months later, the Finance Minister's protection is already showing cracks. Temer's main political aide, Minister Eliseu Padilha, is erecting barricades against the economic team's intention to implement a budget cut of around R$ 20 billion," said Josias.
He cites as an example of divergence the proposal defended by Padilha as an alternative to the budget cuts: the securitization of government debt, a mechanism that allows the government to offer on the market, for a value below face value, credits that it cannot collect upfront.
"The problem is that Meirelles's budget cuts are too hasty to keep pace with Serra's project. Securitization is riding on a supplementary bill. Once approved in the Senate, it goes to the Chamber of Deputies. If modified by the deputies, it returns to the Senate. Then, it will be necessary to approve an ordinary bill in both Houses, regulating the measure. Senator Bauer believes that, by resorting to the urgency procedure, the securitization process could be opened by the end of the year. Will it happen?", he questions.
According to Josias, Padilha is not the only Temer aide to oppose the budget freeze intended by Meirelles' team. "There are other political ministers engaged in the cause. The difference is that they complain away from the spotlight. They fear that the Finance Ministry's cuts will compromise social spending in an election year and on the eve of Dilma Rousseff's trial in the Senate," he points out.
And he warns: "Intrigues are something every government has. But forcing a finance minister to divide his time between managing the accounts and monitoring the opinions of the president's advisors is the best recipe for disaster."
Read in full Josias de Souza's comment.