What happened in the fuel market at the turn of the year was shameful. Gas stations, in several regions of Brazil, increased prices from one hour to another. One of the reasons would be the supposed return of the collection of federal taxes. Unfounded fear, because the federal government published, this Monday (2), MP (Provisional Measure) that extends this exemption until, at least, next February 28.
The previous government’s measure would lose effect on the last December 31st. Unions of retailers accused the distributors of raising the amounts charged at the service stations. Several Procons began to monitor the posts, and some were even fined.
The new Minister of Justice, Flávio Dino, said he had ordered the National Consumer Secretary, Wadih Damous, to verify the increases, which he considered “unreasonable and immoderate, without objective reason”.
It was an appetizer of the way consumers tend to be treated in Brazil, with absolute disrespect. This is what happens, for example, when Selic interest rates, the economy’s basic rate, rise under the allegation of combating inflation. They increase quickly, but take a while to fall in credit when there are cuts in the same Selic.
The Minister of Justice is very familiar with consumer relations, the CDC (Consumer Protection Code) and disrespect for its rules. The response given to service stations and distributors who raised prices will be a clear signal to the market. If abuses are costly, it will be evident that the consumer will have more power in this management. If everything stays that way, the citizen will continue to have to run after the Procons, the Special Civil Courts, the Regulatory Agencies and the Common Justice to enforce their rights.
Certainly the new Justice and Consumer Defense authorities understand that the poorest and most vulnerable have great difficulty in demanding their rights. So, the defense of consumer rights can, and should, be one of the factors for reducing inequality in Brazil.
And the SNDC (National Consumer Defense System), which brings together Procons, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office and civil consumer protection organizations, which work in conjunction with Senacon, has all the conditions to balance the consumption balance, which always tends towards the strongest side, that is, the supplier of products and services.
Equality also begins in consumer relations.
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