Bolsonaro promises cheaper gasoline and forces gas stations to compare fuel prices before and after the ICMS ceiling

Trying to get out of the population's sights regarding the high prices of gasoline, President Jair Bolsonaro edits a decree and now forces service stations in the country to compare fuel prices before and after the setting of the ICMS ceiling.

Last Thursday (07/07), President Jair Bolsonaro edited decree 11.121/2022, which obliges service stations throughout Brazil to compare fuel prices before and after complementary law n.º 194/22 , which set the ICMS ceiling. In addition, the Federal Government promises a reduction in the values ​​of gasoline across the country and seeks to reduce criticism regarding fuel inflation problems in the national territory.

President Bolsonaro's decree obliges service stations to compare fuel prices before and after the complementary ICMS law 

President Jair Bolsonaro is now seeking to reduce criticism of his government in Brazil over the problem of product inflation and has promised cheaper gasoline, as well as a reduction in fuel prices. In this way, he amended 11.121/2022 and, with that, stations across the country will have to compare fuel prices before and after the complementary law that set the ICMS ceiling throughout the national territory. 

The main justification for the president's decision is that the consumer needs to have the necessary transparency to assess the current fuel situation in the country. However, the Bolsonaro government has been trying to blame Petrobras for high prices throughout the national territory and this is yet another measure that should contribute to this.

Thus, with the new decree, the service stations must show the final price and the amount of taxes, separately identifying ICMS, PIS/Cofins and Cide. In the midst of the 2022 election race, Bolsonaro wants to show the population that he has completely zeroed out federal taxes and intends to use this to promote himself on the political scene.

A proof of this is that the decree announced by the president is only valid during the year 2022, while his mandate is still in force, and does not put at any risk of punishment the stations that do not carry out the display of the comparison of the prices of gasoline and other fuels after the changes in the ICMS ceiling. 

Reduction of the ICMS rate on fuels is adopted by the states, but the decision is questioned by the governors

The decision to reduce the ICMS tax rate on fuel in Brazil is one of the main moves by the Bolsonaro government to take the blame away from the State regarding the high gasoline prices and other products.

So far, 21 states have already adopted the measure, namely: Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná, Espírito Santo, Sergipe, Goiás, Amazonas, Ceará, Amapá, Pará, Rondônia , Roraima, Alagoas, Bahia, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Maranhão and Rio Grande do Norte.

However, many governors, despite accepting the decision, continue to criticize the government's position regarding high fuel prices. Thus, the Minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, met with the Minister of the Court, Rosa Weber, to discuss the Direct Action of Unconstitutionality (ADI) 7195, which deals with the governors' criticisms regarding the reduction of the ICMS ceiling.

This happens because the states argue that the lack of ICMS collection will contribute to a reduction in funds for infrastructure improvements in each state. 

Now, President Jair Bolsonaro continues to look for ways to improve his image regarding the fuel problem, the states are taking a stand against the current government's stance and the consumer continues to suffer the impact of political instability with the high prices of products.