Bolsonaro's silence exposes the government's incompetence in the face of the crisis, lawmakers point out.

By Nathália Bignon, for 247 - The lack of a message or statement from President Jair Bolsonaro has once again drawn the attention of congressmen after the world economy experienced a day of chaos. After oil registered its biggest drop since the Gulf War in 1991, due to the escalation of relations between Saudi Arabia and Russia, the Brazilian Stock Exchange plummeted more than 10%, and the commercial dollar hit R$ 4,78 in the country, the silence from the Presidential Palace was considered "deafening". 

“Signs of chaos in the economy. And not a word from President Jair Bolsonaro about measures or actions. Absolute, blatant incompetence,” declared the deputy leader of the PCdoB, federal deputy Márcio Jerry (MA). 

Alessandro Molon (RJ), leader of the PSB in the Chamber of Deputies, called Jair Bolsonaro's attempt to question the vote count in the 2018 elections "nonsense." "Bolsonaro will be asking for a song on Fantástico! He already tried to disguise the economic disaster of his government with demonstrations, with fights with Congress, and now he invents this nonsense about electoral fraud, claiming he won in the first round," he pointed out.

Congresswoman Maria do Rosário (PT-RS) recalled the silence of the Minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, Bolsonaro's biggest bet to reverse the country's economic situation, and the sequential reforms advocated by the head of the ministry. “The tranquility of someone who destroyed R$ 74 billion of Brazilian public assets, of Petrobras, today alone. No measures to protect the country from the international crisis. And this talk of reforms? None of them implemented so far have brought any positive results for Brazil! A one-note samba?”, she questioned. 

Economist and congressman Reginaldo Lopes (PT-MG) took the opportunity to demand a new economic proposal. “We need responsibility in conducting economic policy! Enough of this charade! We need a new economic agenda for Brazil. After five years of ultra-liberal economic policy, it is irresponsible to continue with the same agenda!”

Senate opposition leader Randolfe Rodrigues (Rede-AP) called for more commitment to the truth and to the country. "President Jair Bolsonaro, while you haven't presented the 'proof' of electoral fraud, how about using some of your 'free' time to work? Perhaps present solutions to the economic crisis? Or stop making deals with Congress via PLN4, giving up 15 billion reais?", he said, referring to the bill under discussion in Congress for two weeks regarding the control of R$ 30 billion from the budget.

The national president of the Cidadania party, Congressman Roberto Freire (SP), was another to point out the lack of a statement from the Minister of Economy. “The stock market falls 12%, the dollar reaches R$ 4,72, Petrobras collapses, country risk skyrockets. Only Guedes is 'doing well'. The rational world is anything but calm with such a small GDP and unemployment. The country needs to go beyond reforms, but Bolsonaro is in Florida and Guedes is living in a dream world,” he declared. 

Senator Kátia Abreu (PDT-TO) called for focus in Brazil and warned of the seriousness of the situation. “I want to know who benefits, at this point in the game, from debating fraudulent elections. They had a year to denounce it and they didn't. This doesn't solve the problem of hunger, of those who lost their jobs, or of those who don't have gas to make lunch tomorrow. This is a very serious moment,” she declared. 

Representative Talíria Petrone (RJ), from the PSOL party, was another parliamentarian who openly declared who benefits from the reforms advocated by Guedes. “A day of chaos in the financial sector: the dollar at almost R$4,80, the São Paulo stock exchange and Petrobras plummeting. Meanwhile, Guedes continues to defend reforms as a way to improve the economy. We have stated several times that this government's reforms only serve to privilege the wealthiest. That's all,” she declared. 

In an interview with journalists this Monday (9), Paulo Guedes reiterated that the best response to the crisis is reforms. According to him, the administrative reform could be sent to the National Congress this week, after the return of the President of the United States. With his presence scheduled at the meeting of the Joint Committee on Tax Reform this Wednesday, the Minister of Economy promised to send contributions to the tax reform by next week.