Today, Bolsonaro moves to interfere in Petrobras. The mega-investment by SoftBank in Brazilian education services. Brazil reaches 10 million cases as the country runs out of vaccines.
“Something’s going to happen in Petrobras”
In his regular Thursday live broadcast on social media, Jair Bolsonaro took multiple jabs at the leadership of Brazil’s state-controlled oil and gas firm Petrobras. The president showed himself to be particularly bothered by a recent bump in fuel prices — the fourth increase this year — and recent remarks from Petrobras CEO Roberto Castello Branco, who said that a potential new truckers’ strike is not the company’s problem. Truck drivers are protesting against high diesel prices, among other things.
- After saying he “cannot nor would” interfere with Petrobras’ pricing policy, Mr. Bolsonaro added that “something’s going to happen in Petrobras in the next few days.” He mentioned that Mr. Castello Branco’s words will be met with “consequences, obviously.”
- The president also announced he would scrap federal taxes on diesel for two months and gas “for good,” in a move coordinated with Economy Minister Paulo Guedes. The president, however, failed to outline the effect his decision would have on the budget.
What is behind. Jair Bolsonaro supported...