Lira defends temporary subsidy to minimize fuel increase

The president of the Chamber, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), said this Thursday (17) that he was discussing the best design for the creation of a temporary subsidy that helps to minimize the impact of the increase in fuel in the country and again criticized the Petrobras’ pricing policy.

Lira spoke at the end of the meeting of party leaders, held in the Chamber of Deputies. The deputy, who discusses the aid with the Civil House, with the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the economic team, said that the calculations are still being carried out.

“It is important for the government to be focused on this. The two Houses [Câmara e Senado] are worried about it. All of Brazil is worried about this, and, for sure, we will find a solution,” she said.

According to Lira, the fuel subsidy would have a fixed duration. “There will be a cost for the government and it has to be clear, transparent, to be assimilated together with the population and with those who make Brazil move. It will be a cost X during a period to minimize the effects of the war in Brazil”, pointed out.

The president of the Chamber stated that the benefit can be destined to categories, as he defends. “There are people who think that electorally this is not possible. There is this version. And there are those who defend that the subsidy is for all fuels”, he said.

He stated that the project would not necessarily need to be sent by the government, but that it is important to have an alignment “because anyway, the resignation belongs to the Executive.”

Lira also spoke about the project approved by the Senate that creates a stabilization account to cushion readjustments and establishes guidelines for a new national pricing policy. “When I meant in a quiet, relaxed way yesterday [quarta] that is not on the radar, it is because one thing when it is on the radar is when it is the week of voting here in the House. So it is being discussed, it is being appreciated here in the House, it will be voted on or modified”, she stressed.

For Lira, the project approved by the Senate is “more conceptual”, long-term. “We are doing these discussions and we are going to do it”, she pointed out.

The deputy took the opportunity to criticize Petrobras’ pricing policy again. “We have other more emerging situations, such as, for example, charging Petrobras because when the dollar goes down and oil goes down, they don’t lower fuel prices,” he said.

“And the public charge to Petrobras I have been making on my social networks and in all my movements,” he said.

“Petrobras cannot keep its price policy, which is in effect with lagged values, so that we don’t have shortages, we don’t have other consequences, but it is clear that when the dollar goes down and oil goes down, we don’t go back on the increase is, without a shadow of a doubt, an inability of Petrobras to provide a quick response to the Brazilian people.”

In criticizing Petrobras, Lira joins President Jair Bolsonaro (PL), who has publicly demanded that the state-owned company reduce fuel prices. On Wednesday, Bolsonaro said that the state-owned company does not act the way he would like.

“I have my criticisms of Petrobras too. It’s not what I would like,” the president told supporters in front of the Palácio da Alvorada.

Like Bolsonaro, ministers from the political wing also believe that the company should review the readjustment, given the new oil scenario in the international market.

Military of the highest ranks came together to contain political articulations for the withdrawal of General Joaquim Silva e Luna from the presidency of Petrobras.

Since the weekend, the president has intensified his criticism of the state-owned company. He even said that she is not sensitive to the population, after announcing the mega-increase in fuel prices, due to the conflict in Europe.

Bolsonaro wanted the state-owned company to wait for the vote on the bill in Congress that would zero the federal tax on PIS/Cofins on diesel and cooking gas. The text was sanctioned on Friday night.