Trade unions and unions from various categories protested, this Tuesday (30), against the maintenance of the Central Bank’s (BC) interest rate, the Selic, at a high level. The demonstration was in front of the Central Bank (BC) building, on Avenida Paulista, in the city center. Entitled Less Interest, More Jobsthe protest also called for the departure of the president of the BC, Roberto Campos Neto.
“The interest rate, at the current level of 10.5% per year, the second highest on the planet, is criminal. It eliminates productive investment and promotes the greatest transfer of wealth from the poorest to the richest,” criticized the national president of the Central Única dos Trabalhadores (CUT), Sérgio Nobre.
For the unions, Campos Neto has been arguing falsely to keep the rate at a high level. “Among them [argumentos]fiscal issues, greater economic balance and inflation control. However, all of the country’s economic indicators have shown significant improvement since the beginning of 2023, including falling inflation and economic growth and employment levels,” says CUT.
The general secretary of Força Sindical, João Carlos Gonçalves, known as Juruna, highlighted the unity between the unions and the fact that the protest took place in all the state capitals. “Despite the rain in São Paulo, the unions expressed their opposition to the interest rates in the country. We believe that reducing the interest rate will generate more jobs, boost national production, industries and, at the same time, consumption and trade,” said Juruna.
Tuesday’s protests are taking place during a meeting of the Central Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (Copom), which sets the country’s interest rates. Copom meetings are held every 45 days.
