Government recreates “Conselhão” and says that interest rate can be discussed by the collegiate

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) relaunched, this Thursday morning (4), the Council for Sustainable Economic and Social Development (CDESS), also known as “Conselhão”, with the objective of assisting the president in the elaboration of public policies for economic growth and social development.

The collegiate is made up of 246 members, including representatives of trade unions, social and indigenous movements, members of agribusiness and the financial sector, businessmen, among others.

Originally, the Conselhão had 90 members when it was created in 2003, it was expanded to 92 during Dilma Rousseff’s (PT) administration, maintained by Michel Temer (MDB) and was no longer convened in the next government.

Alexandre Padilha, Minister of Institutional Relations and coordinator of the collegiate, says that the members of this new phase will have the task of devising strategies and public policies that contemplate economic growth with sustainability, a promise of the president’s campaign.

“The new Conselhão has a strong emphasis on innovation, in addition to bringing to the center of the debate the concern with sustainability, in a transversal way, and national diversity, with representatives from the most varied sectors”, he said.

The speech was completed by Lula shortly afterwards, who highlighted the importance of economic growth combined with environmental policies – mainly in agribusiness. The president also recognized the difference in thinking among the members, mentioning that they will all sit together “with people who think differently ideologically, economically and about so many other things”.

Among the members of the new Council are the chairman of Bradesco’s board of directors, Luiz Carlos Trabuco; businesswoman Luiza Helena Trajano, from the retailer Magazine Luiza; indigenous leader Kléber Karipuna; the president of the National Confederation of Financial Workers, Juvandia Moreira, among others. “You are going to have to discuss things that have never been discussed,” said the president on topics such as the economy, social development, industrialization, among others.

Interest rate criticism

During the speech, alternating between a previously written part and moments of improvisation, Lula stated that the Council may “even” discuss the country’s interest rate. It was a direct message to the president of the Central Bank, Roberto Campos Neto, one day after the Monetary Policy Council (Copom) maintained the Selic rate at 13.75%.

“Everyone knows that this board can even discuss the interest rate if it wants to. It’s funny what people think in this country: everyone here can talk about everything, they just can’t talk about interest. Fiesp (Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo), Fecomércio (National Federation of Commerce), the textile industries, everyone has to be careful, as if a single man could know more than the heads of 215 million people “, shot.

A little earlier, the president of the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), Robson Braga de Andrade, had thickened the critical discourse of the Central Bank, stating that “it is impossible” to develop adequate public investment policies with the current interest rate. The opinion was also shared by Rubens Ometto, chairman of the boards of directors of the companies Cosan, Compass, Rumo and Raízen.

However, the claim was not unanimous and was criticized by Luiz Carlos Trabuco. The chairman of Bradesco’s board of directors recognized that the cost of capital “is extremely high, it is even prohibitive”, influenced by the interest rate.

However, he said that it is not possible “to be trapped by prejudices in fiscal or monetary policy. We appeal for a flexible vision, we ask for patience for critics and observers regarding our fiscal and monetary policies”, he added.

Starting next week, the council’s coordinator will create thematic work groups to discuss specific topics in each area. The effective meetings will take place soon after, but still without an official date announced.

The Council’s deliberations and new projects, however, do not come into force as soon as they are presented to the president. Bills are prepared and sent by the Executive to the Legislature for analysis, modification and approval before they become effective.