President Bolsonaro’s demand for Petrobras to reduce fuel prices in the face of the decline in oil prices in global markets did not encourage truck drivers and app drivers. They say they are waiting for the suspension of the link between the price of oil in Brazil and the dollar, an old pressure in the category.
It’s “covering the sun with a sieve”, in the opinion of Wallace Landim, the Cry, leader of truck drivers in the 2018 stoppage.
“We are going to continue pegged to the American currency. Then, in the next increase abroad, it will increase here again”, he says.
José Roberto Stringasci, president of ANTB (National Transport Association of Brazil), also considers it palliative.
“I hope that with all this pressure being put on by the government, Petrobras will lower the price a little, to try to calm the category. But it’s honey on the people’s pacifier once again”, he says.
According to Stringasci, smaller companies are already laying off truck drivers. Despite the situation, he says that the category rules out organizing a strike at this time, contradicting comments raised in recent days.
“These little reductions are not going to solve anything. The President of the Republic does not want to take the attitude he has to take. And it is only he and the Petrobras board who can do that. It is to change this pricing policy.”
Among app drivers, Bolsonaro’s speech was not exciting either. Eduardo Lima de Souza, president of Amasp (Association of Application Drivers of São Paulo), says that he would have to reduce a lot to give a feeling of relief, which he does not believe will happen.
“After increasing 18.8%, certainly, this reduction is no more than 3%”, he says.
This Tuesday (15), during a ceremony at Palácio do Planalto, Bolsonaro said he was sure that Petrobras will reduce the price of fuel to accompany the new oscillation of the barrel in the international market.
Last week, the state-owned company announced a mega-increase of 24.9% in diesel and 18.8% in gasoline.
Joana Cunha with Andressa Motter and Ana Paula Branco
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