Meeting with economists who are part of the Perseu Abramo Foundation’s public policy monitoring group, former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said this Friday (14th) that the financial market should not dictate the economic debate in the country.
Addressing economists who will dedicate themselves to the elaboration of his government program, the former president said that the interests of the market cannot override the problems that afflict the population.
Lula points to hunger, unemployment, inflation, health and education as priority issues and includes the wage gap as a problem to be faced. Also according to participants, Lula stated that the PT has already proved that it has fiscal responsibility.
The former president said that, during his administration, there was an appreciation of the minimum wage and a policy of social inclusion without increasing inflation and said he was aware that stability is important to stop the rise in consumer prices.
He recalled that, at the beginning of his government, public debt represented around 60% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and corresponded to 30% when he ended his term.
The former president listed this data to argue that no other party was more serious about fiscal management. But that, even so, the party is the target of unfair and disproportionate collection.
In a criticism of the market and the press, Lula said that President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) often breaks fiscal rules, without there being any indignation.
The former president encouraged economists who are in his ideological field to publicly expose their opinions. The orientation is to dispute the public debate.
The public policy monitoring nucleus is composed of 83 economists, not all of whom are members of the PT. They meet regularly at the invitation of the Perseu Abramo Foundation. Part of the group will be assigned to the writing of Lula’s government program.
As his candidacy has not yet been launched, it was agreed that, for the time being, a spokesperson for Lula in economic matters will not be appointed.
Host of the meeting, the foundation’s president, former minister Aloizio Mercadante, jokingly said that PT members do not need an Ipiranga post — a term used by Bolsonaro to refer to minister Paulo Guedes — because they already have the pre-registration. -salt.
The group is unanimous in its opposition to the spending cap, which, for Mercadante, was designed to take the poor out of the public budget.
They also denied the return of the CPMF (Provisional Contribution on Financial Transactions) in the tax reform plan proposed by the group, but highlighted that it is essential to have a progressive tax on income and wealth.
This Friday, the meeting had 35 participants. It was agreed that the group will meet more frequently. The assessment of economists is that the scenario is close to recession.
The former minister said that the group of economists is in contact with representatives of the Spanish government, which is undergoing a labor reform, praised last week by Lula. Spain is also an inspiration to the group when it comes to rights for app workers. “The issue of labor reform is not just about rescuing lost rights, it is about elaborating responses to a new and challenging issue such as that of app workers”, he said.
Two representatives of the group of economists will be sent to study the Spanish experience.
The former minister and PT president, Gleisi Hoffmann, complained about the loss of union funding generated by the labor reform, which would have had to disorganize these entities. Gleisi stated that the PT and Lula himself are against the union dues tax, but that it could not have been withdrawn without alternatives.
The party president also criticized fuel prices in the country. “It is not possible for Brazil to have a company like Petrobras and for the people to pay for one of the most expensive gasolines in the world, Petrobras’ pricing policy is wrong, it cannot continue like this,” he said.
For Mercadante, Lula’s return to the presidency will rebuild institutions and bring growth and predictability in economic policy, which will attract more foreign investment.
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