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Brazil Finance minister Meirelles expected to announce this week his presidential bid

Monday, April 2nd 2018 - 06:01 UTC
Full article 7 comments
Under Brazil's electoral laws, if Meirelles plans to be a presidential candidate, he has to resign from the government post by April 7. Under Brazil's electoral laws, if Meirelles plans to be a presidential candidate, he has to resign from the government post by April 7.

Brazil's Finance Minister, Henrique Meirelles, will step down from the government this week and join the ranks of the ruling Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, senior government officials said. The news of Meirelles' move was broken by the government's chief of staff, Eliseu Padilha.

 Meirelles' quit from the post opens the possibility that he will run in the Oct. 7 presidential election, or be on the ticket as vice president. Meirelles is currently a member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), which has said it will support him in the election.

Moreover, the minister of political affairs, Carlos Marun, also told the press that ”the natural candidate is President (Michel) Temer but if he does not want it or can't run, Minister Meirelles' candidacy would be very welcome.”

Under Brazil's electoral laws, if Meirelles plans to be a presidential candidate, he has to resign from the government post by April 7.

Meirelles' fame has been rising in Brazil as he is credited with turning around the country's economy after two years of severe recession. He also has a measure of cross-party appeal as he was governor of the central bank during the left-wing government of Lula da Silva.

The news of his exit spurred worries on Brazilian markets, which dropped before bouncing back amid indications that trade tensions between the United States and China might be alleviating.

While Meirelles denied for a long time he had any intention of running, he has since last year admitted he was thinking about the possibility.

Current polls find Lula leading preferred candidates for the October election, but he is facing a 12-year prison sentence for corruption that could bar him from running.

 

Categories: Economy, Politics, Brazil.

Top Comments

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  • Jack Bauer

    The reason why Lula does not remove himself from the presidential race, despite the fact that he is as good as barred from it due to his conviction in the lower and the appellate courts, and which make him a 'ficha suja' (as per the “Lei da Ficha Limpa”) is because he wants to create as much instability as he can, politically, socially and economically, until he is finally forced to admit poublicly that he cannot run. And that is the a.hole who says he defends Brazil and its people..

    Apr 02nd, 2018 - 02:31 pm 0
  • :o))

    REF: “Meirelles to announce his presidential bid”:

    WHY NOT?

    Afterall, innumerable political parties of ill-repute are already spreading their wings by creating more numbers of political parties of doubtful reputation and effectively are:
    - admitting the convicted political crooks as members
    - protecting & promoting them as candidates
    - inventing laws to increase their immunity
    - Collor, Maluf [to name just a FEW], etc not only enjoy their titles but also the privileges which go with the titles
    REF: http://www.otempo.com.br/polopoly_fs/1.1591235.1522626798!image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/main-charges-resize_620/image.jpg

    Apr 02nd, 2018 - 02:47 pm 0
  • Jack Bauer

    IF FHC got himself elected based on the Plano Real, why not Meirelles based on getting (the PT's high) inflation rate under control again ?

    Apr 02nd, 2018 - 03:19 pm 0
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