Brazil’s Minister of Planning, Simone Tebet, took office on Thursday in a ceremony in which she praised the «broad front» cabinet that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has managed to put together, and thanked him for the confidence placed in her despite their differences.
The third most voted option in the first round of the elections, Tebet thanked Lula for «the absolute trust» he has placed in her by handing her «one of the most important and relevant portfolios» of the new government.
Tebet, who was coordinating the work of the social air during the transition period, has served as the liberal counterpoint to other ministers of Lula’s cabinet more to the left, such as the Minister of Economy, Fernando Haddad, and the Minister of Management, Esther Dweck.
During his investiture speech, Tebet emphasized that the ideological differences he has with the Workers’ Party (PT) on economic issues reflect Lula’s interest in forming a democratic, «broad front» government, in which there are people who think differently.
In spite of the differences, he pointed out that there is «total synergy» in the social agenda and emphasized that «the poor will have priority in public budgets», as well as the rest of the populations at risk, such as native peoples, women, the elderly, people with disabilities, or the LGTBI collective.
«It is time to give visibility to the invisible. We have to cover all these priorities, but without forgetting to keep an eye on the public debt», said Tebet, who, in charge of Planning, managed important public companies such as the statistical institute (IBGE) or the economic research institute (Ipea).
In his new position, Tebet will have to work hand in hand with the Minister of Economy, Fernando Haddad, with whom he agrees on controlling public spending and approving a tax reform that guarantees lower consumption taxes and a less regressive system with greater social justice.
«Only in this way will we have the necessary growth to guarantee the jobs and income that Brazil needs,» Tebet emphasized. His possible harmony with Haddad takes on special relevance since both are seen as potential candidates for the 2026 presidential elections, once Lula has said he will not run again.
During her inauguration, Tebet was accompanied by leading members of Lula’s government, such as Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin, the aforementioned Haddad, or the Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa, as well as others such as the Ministers of Racial Equality, Anielle Franco, and Environment, Marina Silva.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
