Trump’s war is serious, but interest rates could have already fallen further, says Haddad

Last Wednesday, the 29th, the Monetary Policy Committee (Copom) cut the Selic rate for the second consecutive meeting, again by 0.25 percentage points. As a result, the rate went from 14.75% to 14.50%

Photo: MARCELO OLIVEIRA/RASPRESS/ESTADÃO CONTÚDO
SP – MAY 1/SÃO BERNARDO DO CAMPO/ATO – GENERAL – The former Minister of Finance and pre-candidate for the government of São Paulo by PT, Fernando Haddad, participates in the Labor Day event at the Municipal Palace of São Bernardo do Campo, in Greater São Paulo, this Friday, May 1, 2026. 05/01/2026 –

The former Minister of Finance and pre-candidate for the government of São Paulo by the PT, Fernando Haddad, stated this Friday, the 1st, that the Interest rates in Brazil are unnecessarily high. He mentioned the impact of the war in the Middle East, but maintained the assessment that the rate could be at a lower level.

“I never tire of saying that interest rates are very high, there is no need for that. Now, we have a serious episode, which is Trump’s war, which is disrupting the entire world, but interest rates could have fallen further”, he stated, as he left the event to celebrate Labor Day. The event organized by trade unions took place in São Bernardo do Campo, in São Paulo.

Last Wednesday, the 29th, the Monetary Policy Committee (Copom) cut the Selic rate for the second consecutive meetingagain by 0.25 percentage points. As a result, the rate went from 14.75% to 14.50%.

Haddad was also asked about the possibility of “recent defeats in Congress” harm the progress of PEC 6X1. Also last Wednesday, the Senate denied the nomination of the Union’s attorney general, Jorge Messias, to the Federal Supreme Court (STF). Messias was nominated by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

“No, let’s separate things,” he said in response. “This (PEC 6X1) is a workers’ demand. We are on May 1st to celebrate the achievements of this government, but to also put before the National Congress, which are the workers’ representatives, what is imperative now, which is to face this working day thing”, stated Haddad.

Chicken flight

When asked about the recent statement by former minister and presidential candidate Aldo Rebelo (DC), to Diário do Grande ABC, that the Brazilian economy took a “flight of the chicken”, Haddad said he regretted that the politician had “slipped like that”.

“I think he’s not keeping up with the growth indicators, comparing the Lula government with the government he supported. I even feel sorry for him, because he had an interesting trajectory. And then, skidding like that at that age, I’m sorry. I had an appreciation for him,” he said.

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