Guedes says he is ‘without light’ about change of command at Petrobras

The Minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, said this Monday (4th) that he was “without light” about the crisis generated with the change of command of Petrobras. Responsible for the appointments in the economic area at the beginning of the government, he had already stated that he had not participated in the choice of Adriano Pires to preside over the company.

Guedes’ statement was given after lunch promoted by the Voto group at a hotel in the south of Rio de Janeiro. Upon getting into the car, the press asked him to “shed light” on what is happening at the state-owned company: “I have no light,” he said.

Petrobras shares started the day down with news that the one appointed by President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) to preside over the company had given up the position. The information has not yet been confirmed by the government.

The rumors come just over 24 hours after the president of Flamengo, Rodolfo Landim, withdrew from presiding over the company’s board of directors, claiming that he needs to dedicate himself to the command of the club.

The two names would be appreciated at a shareholders’ meeting scheduled for the 13th. They were chosen by Bolsonaro and the Minister of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerque, with the support of Centrão parliamentarians.

Called by Bolsonaro the “Ipiranga post” during the campaign, Guedes had the autonomy to choose presidents of state-owned companies at the beginning of the government – he was the indication of the first president of Petrobras under Bolsonaro, Roberto Castello Branco.

But it has been losing that power over the course of its mandate. In 2021, Bolsonaro fired Castello Branco and appointed General Joaquim Silva e Luna in his place, amid a political crisis generated by the rise in fuel prices.

This month, also dissatisfied with the rise in prices, he decided to exchange Silva and Luna for Pires. Asked about the nomination at the end of March, Guedes said that “it’s not my problem”. “What can I say? I wish the president of Petrobras good luck,” he continued, after insisting the reporters on the matter.

“I’m more concerned about the war, how are we going to mitigate the impacts of prices, reducing taxes is the first step, thinking about reinforcing aid for the most fragile, if prices continue to rise, it should be the second step.”

Despite the financial market having celebrated the nominations of Landim and Pires, experts in the energy sector questioned their connection with businessman Carlos Suarez, who has business in the natural gas sector.

Landim’s resignation was seen as a relief and the market expects Pires to follow suit. His appointment was questioned on Friday (1st) by the Public Ministry of the TCU (Union Court of Auditors), which asked for an investigation by the CGU (General Controllership of the Union) and the Ethics Commission on a possible conflict of interest.

So far, in the face of rumors of Pires’ withdrawal, Palácio do Planalto and the MME have limited themselves to saying that they have not received “any official statement” from the nominee.