Lula Names Leftist Economist to Head Brazil Development Bank

  • Mercandante’s task as BNDES CEO is to reindustrialize Brazil
  • Lula says no privatization will happen during his government

Aloizio Mercadante

Photographer: Andressa Anholete/AFP/Getty Images
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President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva appointed a leftist economist to lead Brazil’s development bank, giving him the the mission to help “reindustrialize” the country.

Aloizio Mercadante, the head the of an economic think-tank maintained by the Workers’ Party, was confirmed by Lula as the new chief executive of the bank known as BNDES on Tuesday. News that the president-elect was planning to pick him had already sent Brazilian markets tumbling the previous day.