Brazil central bank seeks formal autonomy to do its job…

Brazil’s new right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro had promised central bank autonomy in 100 days, if elected. Now after being elected, the talks are on to give the central bank formal autonomy. They have also appointed a new Governor – Campos Neto.

Appointed by Economy Minister Paulo Guedes in November, Campos Neto did not take office until late in February because he had to be questioned by the Senate in order to have his appointment approved. In the ceremony of transfer of position, he said he is proud to work with Guedes. “The meetings in Leblon [during the electoral campaign] will not be forgotten. We are really in a well-tuned orchestra being led by conductor Paulo Guedes,” he said.

Campos Neto pointed out he will work to have the Central Bank fulfill its two main missions: to preserve the purchasing power of the country’s currency through low inflation and solidity in the financial system. Next week, the president of the Central Bank will chair the first meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (Copom), the agency that sets the Selic, Brazil’s benchmark interest rate, currently fixed at 6.5 percent a year.

In the first address, Campos Neto also said that the government will seek to expand the funds raised by major projects in the private enterprise, increase the access to the financial system, improve the population’s financial education, stimulate everybody’s participation in the market, and boost savings.

The autonomy of the Brazilian Central Bank is currently being considered by Congress. The idea is to prevent the president from interfering in the monetary policy, with the institution free to make decisions on interest and take the measures as it sees fit.

Hmm..