The Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, declared, this Friday (10th), in an exclusive interview with CNN that there is no doubt that there was tax fraud at Americanas, which is in the process of judicial recovery.
“That it is fraud, I think there is no doubt,” said Haddad. “I always hope to pass, because I’m at the Ministry of Finance. But anyway, it’s a big fraud, a fraud that shook the market, because it’s 0.5% of GDP, it’s not a ‘little thing’”, he continued.
The issue, in his view, “is affecting the economy, it is affecting moods, it is affecting the Central Bank, it is affecting everything. The Brazilian banking sector suffered a major blow. And the banks are the first to say it was fraud. And, obviously, the suspicions are legitimate, but it has the authority to determine the extent of responsibility”.
Last Thursday (9), leader of the PP in the Chamber of Deputies, André Fufuca (PP-MA), formalized the opening request for a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) to investigate the company.
The request has the signature of 216 deputies — higher than the 171 needed. Now, the decision to establish it is up to the President of the House, Arthur Lira (PP-AL).
For Haddad, having a CPI on the case depends on your objective. If it is to create more confusion, in your opinion, it will not be beneficial. He cites that the Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM), the Public Ministry and the Judiciary are involved in analyzing the issue.
“If Congress, in its independence, imagines that it is in a position to help clarify more (…). Now, if it’s to create more confusion, it’s not good. If it’s to help the country really know what happened. Measures within the scope of the Executive are being taken to clean up what happened in Americanas”.
“I am most interested in knowing what happened there. Because this could affect the credibility of the capital market in Brazil, it could give rise to tougher legislation that we might not have. So, the Ministry of Finance will not pretend that it is not the national interest and the necessary measures to remedy it”.
Source: CNN Brasil
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