Brazil: José Mauro Coelho, third boss of Petrobras in less than three years

José Mauro Coelho, during a radio broadcast in Brasilia in 2021. AFP - FABIO POZZEBOM

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In Brazil, Petrobras has a third successive boss in less than three years.

José Mauro Coelho has just been officially appointed to this position by the board of directors of the public oil company, in the midst of a controversy over the rise in fuel prices in the context of the war in Ukraine.

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With our correspondent in São Paulo,

Petrobras has been in turmoil since the rise in the price of oil, reinforced by the war in Ukraine.

In early March, the company suddenly increased fuel prices: 19% for gasoline, 25% for diesel.

A blow that triggered the anger of President Jair Bolsonaro.

The latter wants to control the rise in prices in the run-up to the October elections.

Under pressure from the government, the president of Petrobras, General Joaquim Luna e Silva, then had to resign.

►Read again: Six months before the presidential election in Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro hardens his tone

Again, a new hitch: the government has chosen a consultant to succeed him.

But Adriano Pires has many key clients in the oil and gas sector: he is suspected of conflicts of interest, and finally had to give up Petrobras.

Back to square one, then.

Petrobras' choice ultimately fell on José Mauro Coelho, a 57-year-old bureaucrat who until then had chaired another public oil company, PPSA.

It remains to be seen how he will react to pressure from political power, which wishes to avoid unpopular measures before the elections.

These take place in six months.

►Read also: Lula joins forces with a former opponent, a choice of reason before the presidential election

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• Brazil

• Energies

• Oil

• Jair Bolsonaro