The runoff frontrunner rejected a report that his fiscal plan would cap social-benefit growth at inflation. He said he would not balance the books on those who need help most.
Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro said on Thursday that, if he wins the 25 October runoff, he would keep raising pensions by more than inflation. He spoke to reporters in Brasilia a day after Folha de S.Paulo reported that his advisers were studying a cap on social-benefit growth at the inflation rate.
“I won’t balance the books on the backs of those who need it most,” he told reporters, Reuters reported. CNN Brasil quoted him telling retirees not to believe what he called fake news from the Workers’ Party that he would end pension adjustments, and saying yes when asked if increases would stay above inflation.
Folha, cited by Reuters, said advisers were looking at measures to curb mandatory federal spending and save 250 billion reais, about 49.8 billion dollars. Bolsonaro said a government of his would keep social programs, cut taxes, and not privatize Petrobras or Banco do Brasil.
He finished first in Sunday’s first round against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Lula’s campaign is arguing that a Bolsonaro government would put above-inflation wage and pension rises at risk. CNN Brasil also reported that Bolsonaro said he would use political capital, if elected, to push an end to re-election.
The remarks answer a newspaper report. They are not a published budget or a change in law. The savings figure is Folha’s account of advisers’ study, not an official campaign document quoted by Reuters.
People Sentiments Mixed
- Bolsonaro said he would not balance the books on those who need help most.
- Lula’s campaign is warning that a Bolsonaro government would put above-inflation pension rises at risk.