Rousseff Said Unlikely to Fire Mantega on Weak Growth

(Corrects to say relations between Rousseff and finance minister in third paragraph.)

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is unlikely to fire her finance chief, Guido Mantega, because she’s satisfied with his performance and expects economic growth to accelerate next year, a government official said.

Rousseff has no plans to change the course of economic policy even after a frustrating third quarter performance in which growth was below forecast, said the official, who declined to be named because he’s not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Relations between Rousseff and her finance minister are strong, said the official.

“I would not think” of resigning, Mantega said to reporters today in Paris, after being asked about the economy’s recent performance. The Economist magazine called last week for Rousseff to fire him.

To contact the reporter on this story: Carla Simoes in Brasilia Newsroom at csimoes1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Joshua Goodman at jgoodman19@bloomberg.net