(Reuters) – Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), the poll leader in this year’s presidential race, said this Wednesday he is looking for someone with a political head in the future economy minister, noting that he doesn’t want a government bureaucrat.

In an interview with UOL, PT also reaffirmed its readiness to change Petrobras’ pricing policy, which today depends on world oil prices and exchange rate fluctuations, if it wins the elections in October.

“I want him to have a political leader. If he thinks politically correct, if he has enough political flexibility, this guy could be the Minister of Economics. He could be an economist,” Lula said when asked about the profile of the future commander of the economic region.

Lula said he would pursue this profile for all first-rankers in a possible third term, saying that a minister with a political head could put together a good team of technicians to manage the government’s portfolio.

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“What I don’t want is a bureaucratic government, a government made up of only technicians,” he added.

At the start of the interview, Lula stated that he would recreate the ministries he had when he was president, specifically mentioning the Ministry of Planning, and that he would create a Ministry of Indigenous Affairs that would be led by an Indigenous representative.

Lulu was also asked about Petrobras, and again he was highly critical of the state-owned company’s pricing policy. He said that if he wins the election, he will aim to turn the company into the largest or at least the second largest oil company in the world.

“I intend to change the pricing policy of Petrobras. I intend to make Petrobras prices dependent on national spending, national spending, because we produce in real and we pay wages in real,” he said.

“This story of price internationalization is actually aimed at pleasing shareholders to the detriment of 215 million Brazilians. We can lower the price, yes, the President did not have the courage.”

HOMELESS

The former president also said that Brazil does not need a spending cap and recalled the financial history of his eight-year presidency as an argument against the limitation placed on the Constitution under the Michel Temer administration, which would require a new constitutional change with three-fifths votes in two rounds of the House of Representatives and Senate.

“I’m lucky that my mandate is in my favor… I don’t need a spending cap law. When you pass the cap bill, it’s because you’re irresponsible, because you don’t trust yourself, because you don’t trust your club, because you’re not sure what you’re going to do,” he said.

“This country does not need a spending ceiling. This country needs a government that is credible, stable and predictable, which Alkmin and I will do with great competence,” he added, taking the opportunity to mention former São Paulo Governor Geraldo Alkmin (PSB), a vice presidential candidate.

Lulu was also asked about the PT sectors’ proposal to use part of the country’s international reserves, which currently stand at 343.5 billion reais, in infrastructure projects to boost economic growth.

“I am not going to interfere with this money,” Lula said, recalling that the process of increasing reserves began under his government and continued in the administration of his successor and political goddaughter Dilma Rousseff (PT).

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