Rural Development Minister condemns press highlights on economic crisis

Rural Development Minister Patrus Ananias condemned Wednesday (Sep. 16) the press media “offenses” to the Brazilian population when reporting that the economic crisis in the country is severe.

"We listen to the radio, read the newspapers and have the impression that Brazil came to an end, the party is over. Financial Times said that Brazil is terminally ill. It's an offense to the Brazilian population. We cannot accept feeling incapable. They are incapable," he declared.

He spoke at the opening of the Dialoga Brasil Seminar on Agroecology, which will discuss the draft of the 2nd National Plan for Agroecology and Organic Production (Planapo 2016-2019). Ananias defended Rousseff's and Lula's government and called the country's economic moment a "crisis in some sectors", noting that Brazil has already surmounted several obstacles.

"Millions of people have escaped extreme poverty. We had successful programs, like Bolsa Família. We overthrew dictatorship. We didn't bow down [when facing] the challenges of history," reported the minister, before an audience with agriculture movements.

Ananias implemented the Bolsa Família program during Lula's government. His speech was delivered two days after the government had announced several measures to reduce expenses and increase revenue, including freezing civil servant's payment and suspending civil service admission examinations in 2016. The government also plan to bring back the old CPMF charged on financial transactions. With the cuts, the government expects to regain credibility among international investors.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta