The president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) He demanded “complicity” from the Legislative and Judiciary Powers in the effort to take measures to cut spending and said that the “speculative greed of the financial market” will overcome “again”.
The president stated that this push for fiscal adjustment must count on the participation of Congress and businesspeople.
“If I make a spending cut to reduce the Budget’s investment capacity, the question I ask is the following: will Congress accept reducing the amendments from deputies and senators to contribute to the fiscal adjustment that I am going to make? Because it’s not just taking it from the government budget. Will businesspeople who live off government subsidies accept giving up a little subsidy so that we can balance the Brazilian economy? I don’t know if they will accept it,” said Lula,
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The interview was recorded last Wednesday (6) and shown on RedeTV! and by YouTube on Sunday night (10).
Lula also stated that the issue is “a responsibility of the Executive Branch” and “it is a responsibility of the Judiciary Branch”. “I want to know if they are willing to cut what is excessive, if Congress is also willing to make a cut in spending, because then there is a partnership and complicity for the good, so that everyone makes the necessary sacrifice for us put the economy in order”, stated the President of the Republic.
Market and ruralists
On another topic in your interview, . “I see the market talking nonsense all day long. You know, I don’t believe that, no, because I’ve already beaten them once and I’m going to win again. The economy will succeed because the people are participating in the growth of this country,” he said.
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“I know the market’s discourse well, I know the market’s speculative greed, and I, sometimes, think that the market acts with a certain hypocrisy to try to create confusion in the minds of society”, continued the PT member.
The president also stated that he is no longer considered the enemy of the ruralist group in Congress. “They are becoming more sustainable and environmentalist. They run the risk of not being able to sell their soy, sell their meat”, said the PT member. “Agribusiness has never received as much money as it did under this ‘communist’ government, which they treat like that,” said Lula.
In addition to the ruralist caucus, the relationship with Congress as a whole has improved, according to the president. “You helped us get to where we are,” Lula told the two senators. “We are approving everything.” He also highlighted that he sees it as normal for some proposals to be rejected by parliamentarians.
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Venezuela and USA
When talking about an issue that causes great strain on his government, the president tried to avoid it and said that Nicolás Maduro’s dictatorship “is Venezuela’s problem, not Brazil’s”.
“I can’t worry about fighting with Nicaragua and Venezuela, I need to fight to make this country work,” said the PT member. Just like Venezuela, Nicaragua lives under a dictatorship, under the command of Daniel Ortega.
Lula also said that it is not up to him to question the Supreme Court of another country, in reference to the highest instance of the Venezuelan Judiciary, which endorsed Maduro’s re-election in the July elections, despite allegations of fraud. “I want Venezuela to live well, and I will take care of Brazil.”
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The PT president also stated that he intends to maintain a relationship as head of state with the elected president of the United States, Donald Trump, despite all political differences with the Republican.
“It’s not up to me to like Trump. It is important to understand that the American people were sovereign in electing their president,” he stated. “I hope that Trump works for peace and for the American people, and I hope to have a civilized relationship,” said Lula.
“We have a historical relationship with the United States and we want to maintain it”, continued Lula, recalling the good contacts he maintained with George W. Bush and Barack Obama during the two previous terms, between 2003 and 2010.
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Asked about the re-creation of the Ministries of Culture and Racial Equality, which had been abolished under the administration of Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and Michel Temer (MDB), respectively, the president defended the return of the portfolios. “We are building this because we think it is necessary. I sleep peacefully with the certainty that we will fix this country.”
Bets
Lula also defended strict legislation for betting and cited allegations of manipulation of football match results against Brazilian athletes. “It is not possible for us to have manipulation in Brazilian society,” said the president. “These boys who are playing abroad don’t have to cheat. What kind of human being we want is also at stake”, he concluded.
