Bolsonaro Goes to the Movies While Economy Czar Skips a Pension Debate

(Bloomberg) -- President Jair Bolsonaro and Economy Minister Paulo Guedes took different approaches Tuesday morning when facing roadblocks to their key pension reform proposal: Bolsonaro took First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro to the movies, while Guedes skipped his appearance before a house committee reviewing the reform initiative.

Local media reported that Bolsonaro and his wife went to a shopping mall in Brasilia for a special screening of Christian drama film “Breakthrough,” starring Chrissy Metz and Topher Grace. The trip to the movies was not on the President’s schedule, which listed a meeting with Rio de Janeiro governor at 11:30 a.m. local time as his first official appointment of the day. Human Rights Minister Damares Alves was also with the couple, according to local newspapers.

Guedes, on the other hand, decided to send some of his aides to a hearing held by house’s Constitution and Justice Committee, which is set to start debates on pension reform in Congress. After almost two months since the beginning of the legislative session, a rapporteur for the pension reform has yet to be appointed, and Guedes made a point of not going to the hearing until that step is taken.

Brazil’s currency reversed gains after Guedes announced his decision not to attend the hearing, which signaled to investors that the political turmoil that erupted last week may continue to roil assets. The real fell 0.5 percent as of 12:32 p.m. in Sao Paulo.

--With assistance from Simone Iglesias.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ney Hayashi in Sao Paulo at ncruz4@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Daniel Cancel at dcancel@bloomberg.net, Julia Leite

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