The Finance Minister, Henrique Meirelles, evaluated, on Wednesday (19) as positive the decision of the Monetary Policy Committee (Copom) of the Central Bank to reduce the Selic, the basic interest rate of the economy.

According to Meirelles, this signals that the government is on track to bring inflation to the central target of 4.5% set by the National Monetary Council (CMN). The Monetary Policy Committee reduced the base rate by 0.25 percentage point, to 14% per year. It is the first reduction in the Selic rate in four years.

"There is no doubt that if the central bank decided to do this was because, after careful review, saw the possibility of getting the monetary easing process. If the BC thus concluded, it means that there are conditions for this and that, therefore, is positive [cut interest rates], "said the minister.

Meirelles also said that the progress of government interest projects is on schedule. "The forecast for the approval of the PEC (241 establishing a ceiling for public spending) by the end of this year was the case from the beginning. The 2017 budget has already been sent to Congress and is under the PEC. There are no risks for the year. there is also no delay in pension reform. we believe that will be voted on in the course of next year. the presentation of the proposal [reform to Congress], yes, is this year, "he said.

Source: Portal Brazil, with information from the Agency Brazil