Commission approves requests for Campos Neto to talk about interest rate

The Economic Affairs Committee (CAE) of the Senate approved, this Tuesday (27), four requests for the president of the Central Bank, Roberto Campos Neto, to provide clarifications again on the definition of the basic interest rate. The invitations were proposed by senators Randolfe Rodrigues (no party-AP), Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI), Rogerio Marinho (PL-RN) and Plínio Valério (PSDB-AM) almost a week after the monetary authority kept the Selic at 13 .75%.

Campos Neto was at CAE in April this year to explain the monetary policy adopted by the Central Bank, such as interest rates, the inflation targeting regime, autonomy, the capital market, among others. However, he has been questioned and pressured to lower the Selic rate.

Since last week, allies of president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) have articulated various strategies to remove and even revoke Campos Neto’s mandate as president of the BC. Randolfe Rodrigues, who is the government’s leader in Congress, says he is “acting against Brazil and against reality”.

Senator Ana Paula Lobato (PSB-MA) also shot at Campos Neto, with a letter asking for his removal for “proven and recurrent insufficient performance to achieve the institution’s objectives”.

On the other hand, Rogério Marinho asked Campos Neto for an invitation to “show the truth and point out that the motivation is not the level of interest. It is the PT’s seat of power. They never accepted the BC’s autonomy”.

There is still no set date for Campos Neto to go to the Senate committee.