Brazil acting president wants to reduce unemployment and reconcile the country

Brazil's acting president, Michel Temer, said he is not considering running for re-election in 2018 in case he is to serve out President Dilma Rousseff's term after a verdict in her ongoing impeachment trial. If confirmed as Brazil's president, he wants to reduce unemployment and give back a reconciled country to Brazilians.

The interim president said he will be satisfied if he is able to achieve that. Asked if he rules out running for office in 2018, he said, “... it might happen, but it's not in my plans. This is a denial of the possibility of a re-election. That will even put me more at ease, because then I won't need to align my activities with a re-election agenda. I could even afford to adopt unpopular measures as long as that is to the country's benefit.”

About the criticism he has faced for having an all-male cabinet, Temer said that a minister-rank status is not what really matters. He said that one of the most important roles in the president's office, the head of the office, has been given to a woman (Nara de Deus Vieira). He went on to say that women are going to be appointed to hold positions in such departments as the Culture Secretariat, the Science and Technology Secretariat, and the Secreatariat for Women, Racial Equality and Human Rights.

In the interview, Temer said he is going to fire any cabinet members who engage in wrongdoing. “In case of mistakes, mismanagement, and particularly in case of wrongdoing in the administration, I'll fire the [accountable] minister,” he said.

The acting president will meet with union representatives on Monday afternoon (May 16) to discuss proposed changes in the pension system. He has invited such unions as the UGT and Força Sindical to join the talk. Chief of Staff Eliseu Padilha, Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles, and Labor Minister Ronaldo Nogueira are also attending.

Translated by Mayra Borges