Temer says he has no fear of unpopularity stemming from fiscal adjustment

During a press conference with US executives in New York, President Michel Temer reiterated he plans to put the country back on track, even if it leads to a deeper plunge in his popularity.

He failed to comment on the fact that former President Lula is to stand trial after Sergio Moro accepted the charges filed by the task force of Operation Car Wash. Temer simply said “if I were in his shoes, I'd turn to the Judiciary branch to debate.”

When asked about the moment when leaders from six Latin American countries left the plenary hall where the UN General Assembly was being held during his opening address, Temer said he was sorry, but played down the incident. “There were 193 countries present, I it I didn't notice their departure.” According to the president, the relations between the countries “should be institutional, state-to-state ties, not those of a government to another government, both of which transitional.”

The president denied he is concerned with risks that his popularity might be undermined by any fiscal adjustment measures. “If my popularity plunges to 5% but I manage to save Brazil in these two years and four months—put the country back on track—I'd be satisfied,” he stated.

Temer further said that, as a vice-president, he had no knowledge of the corruption problems involving Dilma Rousseff's istration. “I didn't know, of course. You know I had no participation in the government. I even dubbed myself 'decorative vice-president' once. I took no part of, I didn't follow any of it,” he stated.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira