A few hours before the ending his participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro said that, if the country’s Congress is willing to work together, Brazil is in condition to implement the measures he announced at the forum. He urged both the Senate and the lower house to support his administration.

“Everything we said here in Davos we are in conditions to do in Brazil. Obviously we depend largely on our Parliament. I want to rely on the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate to meet our goals,” the president said during an interview on Record, a Brazilian TV channel.

Bolsonaro provided a positive assessment of the country’s participation in the forum, saying the atmosphere among political leaders and investors across the world is filled with optimism. “I was contacted by various leaders and business people, all of them interested in Brazil,” he pointed out. “Brazil’s regarded very affectionately.”

In his view, the goal of showing the world the country are prepared to open its market and attract investment has been fulfilled. He went on to note, however, that there is a common request among international executives: “We have our arms stretched open and we want to make business. What are they asking? Brazil is one of the most difficult countries to make business with; they want Brazil free of red tape, with a lower tax burden and barriers eliminated,” he said. “I believe Brazil can come out of this stronger, provided its homework is done.”

Clarifications

Also in the interview, the president answered questions about the investigations into the atypical financial transactions involving Fabrício Queiroz, former adviser of State Deputy and Senator-elect Flávio Bolsonaro.

According to Jair Bolsonaro, considerable pressure has been placed on his son in a bid to affect him, the president. No one is above the law, he added, but one must bear in mind that the decision must be made in compliance with the law.

“The pressure on him is enormous and it comes as an effort to reach me. We are not above the law, nor is anybody else, so may the law be fulfilled,” he said.

Schedule

The president and his entourage returned to Brazil yesterday (Jan. 24). Before taking off, Bolsonaro had a long list of engagements, including appointments outside of the forum. He met the prime ministers of the Netherlands Mark Rutte and of the Czech Republic Andrej Babis. Meetings have also been slated with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Ukrainian Petro Poroshenko, South African Cyril Ramaphosa, and Colombian Iván Duque.