The bill providing a R$1.20 subsidy on diesel will be released this week, says Durigan.

The Ministry of Finance is expected to publish this week the provisional measure that creates a subsidy for imported diesel, with a discount of R$ 1.20 per liter. The information was confirmed this Tuesday (31) by Minister Dario Durigan, who stated that the government is trying to ensure the adhesion of all states before publication, according to a note from "Agência Brasil". "I am still waiting for them to adhere so that everyone participates," said the minister, commenting that two or three states are still resisting the proposal. :: Seeking consensus Despite the attempt at unanimity, Durigan stressed that the measure does not depend on the total adhesion of the governors to come into effect. "I would like there to be unanimity so that we can do it as soon as possible, without any kind of noise or questioning. But even if we seek unanimity, we don't need unanimity," he stated. According to the minister, the government is close to reaching a consensus among the states, after negotiations conducted in recent days. :: Cost Sharing The proposal foresees that the total cost of R$ 3 billion, over two months, will be divided equally between the federal government and the states. Each entity – federal and state – would bear R$ 0.60 per liter subsidized. The initiative aims to contain the rise in fuel prices and avoid the risk of shortages, given the gap between domestic prices and the international market. :: Temporary Measure The subsidy should be valid between April and May and was designed as a response to the impacts of the rise in oil prices, influenced by tensions in the Middle East. According to Durigan, there is an understanding among the governors that the action is punctual. "The governors understood that it is a limited and temporary measure," he said. :: External Pressure The increase in fuel prices is linked to the international scenario, especially the conflicts in the Middle East, which have raised the price of a barrel of oil and put pressure on costs in Brazil. In this context, the federal government is seeking emergency alternatives to reduce the impacts on consumers and productive sectors. :: Default Rates Durigan also commented on the measures to reduce default rates being studied by the government. He said he had received a diagnosis from the Brazilian Federation of Banks (Febraban) on where most of the population's debt is concentrated and said he is meeting with other ministries to define an aid package. According to the minister, there is still no date for the launch of the measures because the studies are in the initial phase. Last week, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva asked Durigan for a set of actions to reduce default rates in the country. According to the most recent figures from the Central Bank (BC), the indebtedness of Brazilian families reached 49.7% of annual income in January, close to the record of 49.9% registered in July 2022. The indicator compares the total debt of a household with the family's income in a year. The portion of family income committed to financial institutions rose from 26.9% in December to 27.1% in January. This indicator measures how much of their monthly income families use to pay installments. 

This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.