Levy: no economic packages around the corner
Joaquim Levy
Future Finance Minister Joaquim Levy pledged a smooth transition in the government's current economic policy. During a press conference, after his appointment had been confirmed by President Dilma Rousseff, he denied there will be economic packages in the upcoming weeks, and promised to work in collaboration with the current economic team until the new measures have been created.
“We're not in a hurry […]. Some things have been discussed in an attempt to lower expenditures, but I think the ability of several agencies to cooperate with each other should lead us to take measures. They'll be—I wouldn't say gradual—but no big surprise to anyone” he said.
Recently nominated Planning Minister Nelson Barbosa, also stated that any new moves will be announced transparently, following the incorporation of suggestions and ideas presented by the current staff.
Levy declared that he has been allowed to forge changes in the current economic policy autonomously, and that there is enough understanding and maturity among members of the present panel.
“It's very important to keep up the process and the rite. The transition experience is good and positive. […] This is a good way of facing the challenges in the new government, which starts on January 1st,” he added.
Levy argues that the reduction in public spending aimed at fixing the fiscal policy will not affect social programs. In his opinion, economic balance is crucial to furthering the progress seen over the last years. “We want to ensure an environment that enables the economy to show the growth needed to survive public expenditures,” he concluded.
Barbosa, in turn, believes there are no contradictions in the relationship between social inclusion and economic stability. “The continuation of social inclusion depends on stability, which depends on curbing inflation, which depends on fiscal balance. I don't think these things are contradictory. [Fixing the fiscal policy] doesn't mean parting with the latest policies, but rather adapting the pace of the programs to the economic state of affairs of the past few years,” he pointed out.
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Levy: no economic packages around the corner
