Interim president confident Brazil crisis can be overcome
In a speech focused on the economy, interim President Michel Temer said today (Jun. 1) that Brazil has plunged into one of the “great crises of its history.” He said that he avoids talking about a “legacy” left to his government, but thinks it is important to tell the truth about the scenario he found. The interim president said he is “convinced” that it is possible to reverse this situation of crisis and revive confidence and growth.
“The country—we shall not ignore it—has plunged into one of the great crises of its history, several combined problems, caused by all kinds of mistakes over time, have affected governance and our people's lives,” he said, in a speech at the Planalto palace, the seat of government, during the ceremony to swear in the presidents of state-led banks, the Petrobras CEO and the president of the Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA).
“I won't be talking about legacy at all. In fact, we should change this attitude we have become so used to in Brazil, as if the past was to account for the present. I won't be talking about legacy at all, but I am going to reveal the facts so that opportunists will not be able to put the mistakes from this legacy down to our government,” he added.
The interim president talked about the current Brazilian scenario of an 11 million unemployed population, and said inflation still requires attention. He also said the $26.7 billion public deficit reported by Rousseff's government would more accurately amount to $47.2 billion. “This was the picture when we took over the reins, but I am absolutely convinced that we can change this situation and revive confidence and growth,” he said.
Temer went on to say that a sense of national unity is key in overcoming the crisis, citing steps in a positive agenda taken at the beginning of the interim government, including downsizing the state, discussing and approving the revised fiscal target in Congress, and a bill to set a ceiling on government spending. “All these measures are not going to solve our huge problems overnight, but we must revive the confidence of the Brazilian people right now.”
Translated by Amarílis Anchieta / Mayra Borges
Fonte: Interim president confident Brazil crisis can be overcome
