Rousseff does not oppose changes to pre-salt exploration

After meeting with Dilma Rousseff Tuesday  (Feb. 16) evening, Senate President Renan Calheiros said the president has no objection against the bill to eliminate requirement for Petrobras to participate in the oil exploration of all pre-salt fields.

The bill, submitted by Senator José Serra, has been put on the list of suggestions for the Senate's agenda in the first half of this year, given by the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (“PSDB”), Brazil's largest opposition party, as requested by Calheiros. President Rousseff's party, the Workers' Party (PT), is against the bill.

"I told the president that we will sustain the strategic interests of Brazil, of the federal government, and of Petrobras. We shall provide and submit the decision to Petrobras Board of Directors [the firm's administration]," said the Senate president after meeting with the president of the Republic.

Calheiros said he will devote efforts to vote for the bill in the Senate floor this Wednesday (Feb. 17)

During the meeting with the president, Calheiros has also suggested for the Senate to introduce the proposed amendment to the Constitution for the extension of the Untying of Federal Revenue (DRU), a legal provision that lets the government free to spend a portion of the budget at its own discretion. The bill has been submitted by the government to the House of Representatives, but it has not been voted.

"I think that untying revenues is very important to Brazil. Currently 90% of public funds have no flexibility. To vote for the DRU bill matters to Brazil to build up new expectations. And if they take too long to vote for the bill in the Chamber of Deputies, we can launch the initiative here in the Senate. This sustains the country's interest," he said.

The Senate president noted that Congress "needs to mature the debate" on some bills, but "they have to be put to vote." According to him, one of these bills provides for Central Bank's autonomy, which may establish a term of office for the institution's president. He said that even if they cannot reach a consensus on the bill's content, it "has been enough debated to be put on vote."

The discussion to establish an agenda for this year's first half in the Senate to seek solutions for the country's economic and political problems were opened up by Calheiros with the parties' leadersTuesday (Feb. 16) morning. In the meeting, they have agreed that each party will offer suggestions on issues they are willing to vote, even if they have not reached consensus on the proposal's approval.

The first party to set its agenda was the PSDB, which gave their suggestions to Calheiros moments before he met with President Dilma Rousseff.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta