The president of Petrobras, General Joaquim Silva e Luna, received this Monday (28) the communication that he will leave the command of the state company.
The information was confirmed to sheet by military allies and auxiliaries from the Planalto Palace and the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
The military’s resignation comes after a series of frictions with President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) due to the mega-increase in fuel prices promoted by the company.
In his place, the most quoted at the moment to take over is Adriano Pires, current director of the Brazilian Center for Infrastructure. His name, however, faces resistance in government wings.
The state-owned company’s shares, which had already been falling on Monday in the face of the 10% drop in the price of oil, were affected by the news of a change in command.
At 5:11 pm, before the post-market close, Petrobras lost 2.63% in its most traded shares and, as a result, was the main responsible for the drop in the Ibovespa after eight trading sessions in the dark.
Luna had been under pressure to review the rise in prices after changes in the price of a barrel of oil. The general was publicly pressured by Bolsonaro himself and by the president of the Chamber, Arthur Lira (PP-AL).
The military man, however, said internally that the variations were conjunctural and not structural and that the time had not yet come to review the mega-increase promoted by the company.
Luna’s resignation repeats the outcome that had Roberto Castello Branco, appointed by Minister Paulo Guedes (Economy) to command Petrobras and who was fired in February 2021.
Castello Branco’s dismissal came after the company announced the fourth increase in diesel and gasoline prices that year.
A Datafolha survey published this Monday (28) showed that the majority of Brazilians, 68%, believe that the government of President Jair Bolsonaro is responsible for the rise in fuel prices.
For 39%, the Bolsonarista management has a lot of responsibility for the increase in gasoline, diesel and cooking gas. Another 29% believe that the government has at least some responsibility. In the 30% assessment, the government has no responsibility.
The increase in fuel prices is one of the government’s biggest concerns, as the increasingly higher readjustments are interpreted as a risk to the president’s re-election, and has generated pressure within the government itself for a solution to soften the price for the final consumer. .
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