Ciro Nogueira says that new Petrobras president has the autonomy to make changes

The Chief Minister of the Civil House, Ciro Nogueira, said this Tuesday (24) that the new president of Petrobras, Caio Paes de Andrade, has the autonomy to make changes he deems necessary in the boards of the state-owned company.

In an interview with SBT, he also said that the exchange was already expected, so that Petrobras has a policy in line with the Ministry of Mines and Energy, which he says is living in a “new moment”.

“It’s a decision of the new president [trocar diretorias]. It’s not my decision. But I think he has the autonomy to make changes that are necessary,” said Nogueira.

Members of the government, privately, already consider it obvious that there will be a change in directors of the state-owned company.

The government announced, on Tuesday night, the departure of José Mauro Coelho, less than 40 days after his inauguration. If he takes office, Andrade, now secretary of the Ministry of Economy, will be the fourth president of the state-owned company since Bolsonaro arrived at Palácio do Planalto.

The exchange displeased industry representatives and government officials. The political wing, of which Ciro Nogueira is a part, tried to keep José Mauro in office, considering that a new exchange would bring even more wear and tear to the government.

Last week, Bolsonaro fired minister Bento Albuquerque and appointed Adolfo Sachsida for Mines and Energy. Both he and Andrade are names that Guedes can trust. The minister emerged even stronger from the arm wrestling around Petrobras.

Nogueira denies that the exchange at Petrobras represents intervention by Bolsonaro, who chose the state-owned company as the target of his criticism this year in the face of rising fuel prices. The minister himself said in the interview with SBT that this “is the factor that most distresses the president”.

Asked about his position on a policy of subsidies or a sinking fund to reduce fuel prices, the Chief of Staff avoided taking a position and said that Guedes believes it is not feasible.

“I cannot express whether I am in favor or against it. I am obedient to the economic policy of the President of the Republic, he who is in charge of the entire process, and he has shown that he has complete confidence in the Ministry of Economy, in Paulo Guedes”.