Brazil's new Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles said Friday his priority is to cut government spending, but pledged to keep funding for social programs for those in need, the outgoing government's most popular legacy.

"The priority right now is controlling public spending," Meirelles said, a day after interim president Michel Temer took power from his suspended predecessor, Dilma Rousseff, who faces an impeachment trial in the Senate.

"Social programs that represent smaller amounts in the budget but are fundamental for those who need them will be kept."