Brazil's Finance Minister Hints at Future Plans

Fernando Haddad, Brazil's Finance Minister, hinted he might step down soon. He shared this with O Globo in a recent chat. Haddad wants to help Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's 2026 presidential campaign. He made it clear he won't run for office himself, but he wants to shape the campaign's strategy. Haddad's exit isn't set in stone yet. He said it's a possibility and Lula is okay with it. They just need to talk more about it. Lula, now 80, plans to run for president again. But who will challenge him is still a mystery. Flavio Bolsonaro, son of ex-President Jair Bolsonaro, has thrown his hat in the ring. This news shook up the markets. Tarcisio de Freitas, the governor of Sao Paulo, supports Bolsonaro's son. De Freitas is seen as more market-friendly. Haddad mentioned the government is slow to fill important jobs. The political climate is making things move slower. Key spots like the central bank and the securities regulator CVM are still empty. Even the latest Supreme Court vacancy is taking time to fill. Haddad assured that the central bank picks will be based on skill, not politics. Lula is already talking to people about it. But Haddad didn't give a timeline for when these jobs will be filled. The central bank kept interest rates high at 15%. They didn't say when they might cut rates. Some think it could happen in January, but many expect it to wait until March.