‘I don’t define Petrobras’ price’, says Bolsonaro shortly before the increase announcement

President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) said this Thursday (10) that he does not set a fuel price at Petrobras, shortly before the state-owned company announced a new adjustment.

“All over the world has increased [preço dos combustíveis]. I don’t set a price at Petrobras. I don’t decide anything, no. Only when there is a problem does it fall into my lap,” Bolsonaro told supporters in the playpen at Palácio da Alvorada.

The statement was released late in the morning, at 11 am, by the Bolsonarista channel Foco do Brasil, but was granted earlier to supporters.

“Lula and Dilma interfered in Petrobras’ prices, among other things. They indebted the company in R$ 900 billion. The trend is to improve abroad, but there will be a fuel problem in Brazil. It won’t take long,” he said.

Pressured by the advance of oil prices with the war between Russia and Ukraine, Petrobras readjusted the prices of gasoline and diesel in refineries. The last one was in January.

The increases come into effect from Friday (11).

In the case of gasoline, the adjustment for distributors is 18.8%. The average price will go from R$ 3.25 to R$ 3.86 per liter.

For diesel, the increase is even greater, at 24.9%. The value will rise by almost R$ 1 per liter, from R$ 3.61 to R$ 4.51.

The government has been seeking, since last year, a solution to the high fuel prices, pressured by inflation.

In recent days, however, the international scenario has made the top management seek a more urgent way out.

There is divergence between groups in the government, which has made it difficult to find a way out. One wing of the government defends changing Petrobras’ pricing policy.

Another, however, defends re-editing the subsidy program that former president Michel Temer made during his administration. While Bolsonaro does not hit the hammer, Planalto decided to prioritize the vote on the bill in the Senate that cuts taxes on fuel.