Brazilian Politician Zema Talks Economy in TV Interview
Listen to the story
Romeu Zema is a politician in Brazil. He wants to be president in 2026. He spoke on a TV interview.
Zema said he is an expert in money adjustment. This means he knows how to fix government money problems. He said he can make the country's money better.
Zema also talked about interest rates. Interest rates are extra money people pay when they borrow money. He said the rates are too high. He called them 'loan shark' rates. A loan shark is someone who charges very high interest.
Zema promised two things. First, he promised administrative reform. This means changing how the government works. Second, he promised to fight fraud. Fraud is when someone cheats to get money.
Zema also talked about the minimum wage. This is the lowest pay workers can get. He said any increase depends on other conditions.
Another politician, who started a party called Novo, made a joke about Zema. He said it is better for Zema 'not to appear' on TV. This was said during the same TV program, called a 'sabatina'. A sabatina is a public interview with questions.
Vocabulary10 words
- Zema
- a politician from Brazil who wants to be president
- interview
- when someone answers questions on TV or radio
- expert
- a person who knows a lot about something
- adjustment
- a change to fix a problem
- interest rates
- extra money you pay when you borrow money
- loan shark
- someone who charges very high interest on borrowed money
- administrative reform
- changing how a government or office works
- fraud
- cheating to get money illegally
- minimum wage
- the lowest amount of money a worker can be paid
- sabatina
- a public TV interview with many questions
Quiz
Answer key
1. An expert in adjustment 2. High interest rates 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Romeu Zema is a _____ in Brazil. He wants to be _____ in 2026. He spoke on a TV _____.
Zema said he is an _____ in money adjustment.
He called high interest rates '_____' rates.
Zema promised administrative _____ and to fight _____.
He also talked about the minimum _____.
Another politician joked it is better for Zema 'not to _____' on TV.