Key facts
- A Brazilian Senate committee approved a constitutional amendment to grant the central bank financial autonomy.
- The amendment allows the central bank full control over its budget for salaries and investments.
- The bank's budget will be funded by income generated from its own financial assets.
- The proposal must pass two rounds of votes in the full Senate before moving to the lower house.
- The central bank's governor argued the proposal was key to strengthening the institution's finances.
- The proposal enshrines Pix in the constitution as an exclusive central bank function.
A Brazilian Senate committee has approved a constitutional amendment that would grant the nation's central bank financial autonomy. The proposal, approved on Wednesday, would allow the central bank full control over its budget, including salaries and investments, with funding derived from its own financial assets. This move is opposed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's administration, which views it as a further loss of influence over the central bank. The bank had already gained operational autonomy in 2021. The proposal now moves to a full Senate vote, where it must pass in two separate rounds. If successful, it will then proceed to the lower house for a similar two-round approval process. Governor Gabriel Galipolo argued the proposal was key to strengthening the institution's finances amid emerging challenges, including staff losses and the need for technological investment to support operations and the Pix instant payment system. The proposal also enshrines Pix in the constitution as an exclusive central bank function, effectively barring privatization.