Tebet says there is still no definition of the fiscal target in the LDO

After a meeting of the economic team with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), the Minister of Planning, Simone Tebet, said this Tuesday (14) that the discussion on the “possible change” in the fiscal target will be extended until the next Monday (20).

“We have not yet discussed the possibility of changing the goal or not. We have that deadline until Friday, maybe even Monday. There is the possibility of extending the presentation of amendments until Monday. I don’t know if we will be called upon to discuss the target issue by then”, said the minister.

The deadline mentioned by the minister regarding the amendments to the Budget Guidelines Law (LDO) was extended by the president of the National Congress, senator Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), until this Friday (17).

About the changes to the target, which were presented by some parliamentarians, such as that of federal deputy Lindbergh Farias (PT-RJ), which changes the target to a deficit of up to 0.75% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and another to 1% , Tebet said that “each parliamentarian has the right” to send the change proposal.

According to the minister, the economic team has maintained dialogue with the LDO rapporteur, deputy Danilo Forte (União Brasil-CE), about possible changes to the fiscal target. “We are very calm in this aspect of communication and, at the right time, he will consider whether or not to change the goal, when that will happen”, he said.

Other Lula ministers also remain undecided about whether or not to maintain the fiscal target. Minister of Institutional Relations, Alexandre Padilha, joined the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, in defending maintenance. Meanwhile, the Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa, and sectors of the PT still defend a more flexible target.

Tebet denied that the subject of the target had been discussed with President Lula. She said that the meeting was to discuss the 2024 Budget and revenue measures, and mentioned other issues such as tax reform; taxation of offshore companies and exclusive funds; end of deduction of JCP (interest on own capital); taxation and regulation of sports betting; discipline investment subsidies.