Meirelles denies that he was invited by Lula da Silva to take over the Finance Ministry

Former Finance Minister of the Michel Temer (MDB) government, Henrique Meirelles (União Brasil), said Thursday (Nov. 3) that he has not yet been invited to take over the portfolio in the government of President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).

Meirelles, who was also president of the Central Bank during Lula’s government, has a good relationship with the PT member and is the market’s desire to take care of the economic area from 2023. Speculation about his name has increased in recent weeks.

The former minister said to UOL that “the conversation has not yet taken place.”

Earlier, in an interview with Valor Econômico, he said that he had been warned by people close to Lula that he should “be prepared” because he could be proposed for a position in the government. “But it is not a direct, official matter,” he explained.

Meirelles has supported Lula’s election since before the first round of voting.

He said he considered it “probable” that the former president would repeat his first government (2003-2006).

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