Central Bank Autonomy: Galípolo Signs Global Manifesto Amid Master ...

Central banks worldwide are facing an unprecedented coordinated assault on their independence. In response, monetary authorities from multiple continents have united behind a powerful statement of principle.

Brazil's Central Bank President Gabriel Galípolo has appended his signature to a landmark international declaration that reaffirms the technical autonomy of central banking institutions as the central pillar of global economic stability. This move places Brazil firmly alongside some of the world's most respected monetary authorities, including the European Central Bank, the Bank of England, and the Bank for International Settlements.

The manifesto's release comes at a moment of heightened tension across both hemispheres. In the United States, President Donald Trump has escalated pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for accelerated interest rate reductions. In Brazil, the Central Bank faces intense domestic scrutiny over its handling of the Banco Master liquidation.

The document "reafirma a autonomia técnica das instituições como pilar central da estabilidade econômica global" (reaffirms the technical autonomy of institutions as the central pillar of global economic stability).

The American central banking system finds itself at the center of a political storm that has raised alarms about the erosion of institutional safeguards.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell confirmed on Monday that the Department of Justice has served the Federal Reserve with grand jury subpoenas. The action threatens criminal charges related to Powell's Senate testimony delivered last year concerning the renovation of historic Federal Reserve buildings.

Powell's response was measured but firm. He emphasized that while no individual, not even the Federal Reserve Chair, stands above the law, the timing and nature of this action must be understood within the broader context of sustained governmental pressure.

"Tenho profundo respeito pelo Estado de Direito e pela responsabilização em nossa democracia. Ninguém — certamente nem o presidente do FED— está acima da lei. Mas essa ação sem precedentes deve ser vista no contexto mais amplo das ameaças e da pressão contínua do governo."

The outgoing Fed Chair, whose term concludes in May, faces a situation that many observers view as politically motivated intimidation designed to influence monetary policy decisions.

While Galípolo signs international manifestos, he simultaneously navigates a complex domestic crisis that has placed the Central Bank's decision-making under a microscope.

The Tribunal de Contas da União (TCU) has formally questioned the Central Bank's handling of the Banco Master liquidation. Minister Jonathan de Jesus has demanded explanations regarding alleged "precipitated" actions in the bank's closure and has pushed for unprecedented transparency in the process.

The timeline of events reveals a complex financial maneuver:

• November: BC decrees extrajudicial liquidation after Fictor Holding presents purchase proposal
• Two months prior: BC rejects acquisition by BRB (Banco de Brasília)
• Investigation reveals R$12.2 billion in suspicious credit portfolio sales
• BC and Federal Police uncover potential fraud in Master-to-BRB transactions

The situation escalated this week when TCU President Vital do Rêgo Filho met directly with Galípolo. The meeting sought to balance the TCU's oversight powers with the Central Bank's autonomy, particularly regarding technical inspections within BC facilities.

The compromise reached signals that the Central Bank will permit inspections specifically related to the Banco Master case, representing a delicate navigation between institutional independence and accountability demands.

Beneath the political maneuvering lies a fundamental debate about the role and protection of independent monetary authorities in modern democracies.

The international manifesto signed by Galípolo articulates a clear position: institutional independence is not a privilege but a necessity. The document emphasizes that such independence is fundamental to ensure price stability and citizen well-being, always operating within the framework of democratic transparency and the rule of law.

This principle faces challenges from multiple directions:

• Political pressure for short-term policy adjustments
• Legal interventions that may compromise operational autonomy
• Public scrutiny during financial crises requiring decisive action
• International coordination challenges in an interconnected global economy

The manifesto represents a collective defense of these principles at a time when they appear most vulnerable, suggesting that central bank independence is increasingly viewed as essential infrastructure for global economic stability rather than merely a technical arrangement.

The convergence of international solidarity and domestic crisis creates a pivotal moment for central banking in Brazil and beyond.

Gabriel Galípolo's signature on the international manifesto signals Brazil's commitment to global standards of central bank independence, even as he negotiates the delicate balance between that independence and domestic accountability requirements. The R$12.2 billion Banco Master case will likely serve as a test case for how autonomous institutions can maintain credibility while satisfying legitimate oversight demands.

Meanwhile, the situation in Washington continues to deteriorate, with Powell's legal jeopardy potentially setting a precedent for how political actors can influence supposedly independent institutions. The May conclusion of Powell's term adds urgency to these developments.

For global markets and policymakers, the key question remains whether the principles articulated in the international manifesto can withstand the pressures currently bearing down on central banks worldwide. The answer will shape monetary policy and economic stability for years to come.