Lula Rejects Privatization of Correios and Expresses Confidence Regarding Public Debt

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated in an interview with Globo that he does not intend to sell the state postal service, Correios, and is not worried about Brazil's public debt. Lula argued that economic growth will naturally reduce the weight of the debt relative to the GDP, noting that countries such as the United States, Japan, and Italy maintain higher debt levels. He attributed the current debt increase to high interest rates and a fiscal deficit inherited from the previous administration.

Regarding Correios, the president admitted that the company has failed to adapt to new market times and the rise of delivery competitors. While he ruled out privatization, he expressed openness to forming associations with other companies to recover the state entity. Reports on the financial state of Correios varied, with one source citing a loss of 3.2 billion reais in the first quarter of the year and another mentioning a historical deficit of 15 billion reais over four years.

The interview was part of a series with presidential candidates ahead of the first round of elections on October 4. Lula highlighted that the Brazilian economy has returned to growth above 2 percent during his third term, contrasting this with a period of stagnation over the previous decade.