Interim president: Our goal is to “put Brazil on track”

Brazil's interim President Michel Temer said Monday (Jul. 4) he is not afraid to make unpopular proposals if they can help improve the country's situation. “I have no election agenda. If I stay in office for another two and a half years and succeed in putting Brazil on track, that will have been enough for me. I want nothing more from public office,” he said.

Temer spoke at the Global Agribusiness Forum in São Paulo. He said that in the short period he has been acting as Brazil's interim president, the Executive branch has successfully forged good connections with the Legislature. “In a democratic state, you rely on support from Congress. In an authoritarian state, you ignore it,” he said.

Temer instanced results of the collaboration between Congress and his government, including the untying of budget funds, the fiscal target revision, the proposal to cap public spending (which will extend to state budgets) and the restructuring of the state debts.

Temer also advocated pay rises for government employees, which, he said, have been set below inflation. “If we hadn't struck that agreement [to increase wages] below inflation, we could have faced strikes in crucial sectors, which would have been politically disastrous for the country”, he said. He assured, however, that the government is committed to curbing spending.

Translated by Mayra Borges