Dilma Appeals to Congress to Control Public Finances

02/04/2014 - 08h50

Concerned with the potential effects of Brazilian economic performance on her re-election campaign, President Dilma Rousseff on Monday reiterated her government's commitment to fiscal responsibility, demanding renewed effort from Congress in controlling public finances and inflation.

In her message to Congress at the opening of the legislative year, Rousseff said that Brazil has what it takes to overcome the financial crisis currently affecting emerging economies. She also criticized the developed nations, arguing that it is not possible to reconstruct the world economy in isolation.

In the morning, the President had already used a ceremony inaugurating three ministers as a means of defending her legacy, particularly her economic policy, and promised that her government will see out its work this year. She reemphasized that "2014 will be better than 2013."

Government discourse has repeatedly sought to assuage the concerns of the market regarding its economic policy. This issue will be government priority in the first semester this year, and debates regarding the government's economic record will feature heavily in October's presidential elections.

"In a global situation of great uncertainty and challenges, our country is maintaining stability, growth, employment, income and the reduction of inequality," read Rousseff's message to Congress. "In 2014, public finances will be managed with a profound commitment to fiscal responsibility."

As she did at the recent World Economic Forum, Rousseff said that the government intends to "converge" inflation in order to achieve its targets, guaranteeing that the measure is not negotiable. The current target stands at 4.5%, with a two-point margin for error.

Rousseff also aimed some criticism at the developed nations. "There are strong indications that we are witnessing the recovery of the economies of the developed nations, but it's clear that no one country can deal with the task of reconstructing the world economy in isolation."

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE

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	Sérgio Lima/Folhapress
	Rousseff reiterated her government's commitment to fiscal responsibility