‘If I need to change Petrobras president five times, I’ll change it’, says Bolsonaro

President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) sought to counter criticism this Wednesday (13) that he seeks to interfere in the command of Petrobras with successive changes in the command of the state-owned company and argued that the presidents did not have “social sentiment”.

Bolsonaro also mocked the criticism for having promoted four exchanges at the top of the state-owned company during his term.

“‘Oh, he changed the president of Petrobras four times,'” Bolsonaro told supporters, using a mocking voice to mock the criticism, and then conclude: “Yes, and if I need to change five, I will”, he added.

The government of President Jair Bolsonaro has been suffering wear and tear because of high inflation, driven largely by fuel price readjustments.

The president then launched in recent months a rhetorical war against the governors, whom he accused of being responsible for fuel prices, for keeping the tax burden high, and also against Petrobras.

In June, shortly after the last adjustment announced by the company, Bolsonaro intensified the pressure for the resignation of the then president of Petrobras, José Mauro Coelho. The executive ended up resigning days later.

“Social sentiment is provided for in law”, says president

Jair Bolsonaro spent more than 45 minutes this Wednesday (13) talking with his supporters at Palácio do Alvorada. When talking about Petrobras, he said that he never wanted to interfere in the company’s management, but that its presidents would not be worrying about the price of gasoline.

“Nobody wants to change the president of Petrobras to interfere. We want to change because he doesn’t have that social feeling that is provided for by law. In times of war, everything is different, even in your house, when the husband or wife loses the job, the war budget came in. Look, I’m not going to buy yogurt anymore, I don’t know what there, it won’t be meat, it’s going to be chicken. You manage,” said the president.

Jair Bolsonaro said that the effects of the war between Russia and Ukraine are felt in all parts of the world and that is why fuel prices are high. The chief executive also repeated that “everything is ok” for the purchase of cheaper diesel from Russia, a negotiation that would have started during his trip to the country in February.

Bolsonaro also criticized the Petrobras board for its high salaries, and suggested that the rise in prices is beneficial for them because they increase profits.

“What we change Petrobras is for us, the staff, everyone has to look for the cheapest. A director earning BRL 100,000 a month, a CEO BRL 200,000 a month cannot stay there, in a good These people are not worried about the price of gasoline. And the higher the price of fuel, the more they profit from you, the more money is left for shareholders,” he said.

“It’s not that we don’t want Petrobras to make a profit. We want it to make a profit. But as we are in a time of war, the feeling has to be different, it’s a sacrifice for everyone. Now, they didn’t do that.”

The president also charged in an ironic tone that no one accused him of being responsible for reducing fuel prices. In an articulation by the president of the Chamber, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), the National Congress approved a proposal that established a ceiling of 17% for state taxes on fuel and other items, which are now considered essential. The proposal has resulted in lower prices.

On the other hand, the president had prepared a proposal to spend around R$30 billion to compensate states that had zeroed their rates. The proposal ended up becoming a BRL 41 billion goodwill package, in the year he seeks reelection.