Gleisi says she joined the government 'to contribute' and downplays disagreements with Haddad.
The minister said that criticism and differences of opinion are part of the democratic process and reinforced her support for the government's economic agenda.
247 - The Minister of Institutional Relations, Gleisi Hoffmann (PT), stated that her entry into the top tier of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's (PT) government aims to "add value" and downplayed disagreements with the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad (PT). According to Gleisi, criticism and differing positions among government members are part of the democratic process.
“This week I was with Minister Haddad. Since my inauguration I have said that I really wanted to talk to him because I joined the government to contribute. I can have my criticisms, my differing positions. I think that’s normal in the democratic process and even in this process that we have of forming a government,” the minister said in an interview with the program “PodK Liberados”, broadcast by Rede TV! on Sunday (16), according to CNN Brazil.
In recent years, Haddad and Gleisi have disagreed on several occasions about the direction of the PT (Workers' Party) and the strategy for President Lula's third term. According to CNN Brazil, both have been mentioned as possible successors to Lula, fueling speculation about a future dispute within the party.
Despite their differences, the meeting between the ministers last week indicated that both intend to maintain a joint effort within the government. Gleisi reinforced her willingness to collaborate with the economic team. “I came to help, and I said that in my [inauguration] speech, and I went to the Finance Ministry to talk to him. I said: 'Minister, what are the projects that the economy has in the National Congress? How can we help you coordinate and facilitate this? So count on me.' He already told me about the projects; it was a good conversation, and I will be by his side,” she declared.
The minister also criticized the pressure from the financial market on the government's economic decisions, arguing that Lula's administration is responsible in managing the economy. "It's not right for the market to be demanding that we cut our wrists; how can you stop doing things? So President Lula's government is very responsible," she argued. At the end of the interview, in the "Define in one word" segment, Gleisi described Haddad as "extremely intelligent."
Among the priorities of the government's economic wing, she highlighted the progress of agendas such as limiting excessive salaries in the public sector and increasing the income tax exemption threshold for those earning up to R$ 5.
