Temer says he has 60 votes in the Senate for impeachment.

Interim President Michel Temer admitted this Thursday (2), in an interview with journalist Kennedy Alencar, from SBT Brasil, that the CPMF could return and that the retirement age limit could increase; "Either Social Security has to be reformed, or all pensioners will suffer," said the president, who believes that the issue of the minimum age and contribution time will need to be modified, both for the private sector and for public servants; when asked if there would be enough votes in the Senate for the definitive removal of Dilma Rousseff, the interim president stated that he had information that 59 or 60 senators tend to vote for impeachment.

June 03, 2016, 00:03 pmUpdated June 29, 2018, 17:05 pm

Interim President Michel Temer admitted this Thursday (2), in an interview with journalist Kennedy Alencar, from SBT Brasil, that the CPMF could return and that the retirement age limit could increase; "Either Social Security has to be reformed, or all pensioners will suffer," said the president, who believes that the issue of minimum age and contribution time will need to be modified, both for the private sector and for public servants; when asked if there would be enough votes in the Senate for the definitive removal of Dilma Rousseff, the interim president said he had information that 59 or 60 senators tend to vote for impeachment (Photo: Valter Lima)

247 - Interim President Michel Temer admitted this Thursday (2), in an interview with journalist Kennedy Alencar, from SBT Brasil, that the CPMF (Provisional Contribution on Financial Transactions) may return and that the retirement age limit may increase.

"Either Social Security needs to be reformed, or all pensioners will suffer," said the president, who believes that the issue of minimum age and contribution time will need to be modified, both for the private sector and for public servants. "We don't want to harm those who are already in the job market. We can establish transition rules. If the term is 35 years, perhaps someone who has, say, 15 or 20 years [of contributions] will have to contribute for another year, for example. But this is a benefit for the citizen themselves," he justified.

Regarding the CPMF (a tax on financial transactions), he stated that the return of the tax is not ruled out, but that his government will try its best to avoid resorting to this measure. "An increase in taxes is not ruled out; if necessary, I will do it. We will try to avoid it. If it comes, it will necessarily be temporary," he said.

Fiscal Maneuver

When questioned about accusations included in the impeachment process against Dilma, the interim president stated that fiscal irresponsibility is a violation of the Constitution. "If you disobey the budget law, impeachment is provided for in the constitutional text. And the trial is political, unlike a judicial trial," he affirmed.

Regarding social programs, Temer declared that he will maintain them: "Maintain Bolsa Família and even increase its value. Expand Minha Casa, Minha Vida. Promote significant job creation. If that means being right-wing, so be it. Today, labels are absolutely worthless."

When asked if there would be enough votes in the Senate for the definitive removal of Dilma Rousseff, the interim president stated that he had information that 59 or 60 senators were likely to vote in favor of impeachment.