President Luiz Inácio Lula da SilvaRafa Neddermeyer/Agência Brasil
Published 05/07/2024 12:05
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) complained about the discussions surrounding the fiscal target of zero deficit for public accounts, established by the government itself, and said he felt “irritated”. The statements took place during an interview on the EBC program Bom Dia, Presidente, with ministers Rui Costa (Casa Civil) and Paulo Pimenta (Secom), this Tuesday, 7th.
“Sometimes I get a little irritated with this fiscal deficit thing, whether it’s going to be zero, whether it’s not going to be zero. This is a discussion that no country in the world is having,” declared the President of the Republic.
Lula said that the fiscal deficit “is not the problem” and that it is necessary to differentiate spending from investments. The president said that, in his previous governments, he taught “lessons of responsibility”.
“Nobody talk to me about fiscal responsibility. I will never spend more than I need to spend,” said Lula. “Now, if the government has to spend money to build a new asset, something new, that increases the country’s assets, what’s the problem? None.”
Lula also said he considers the discussion about fiscal deficit to be “innocuous”. “I can’t just look at the fiscal deficit and not look at the social deficit”, declared the president.
