Latest news with #GetulioVargasFoundation
The Sun
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Bolsonaro to appear in Brazil court over attempted coup charges
BRASÍLIA: Brazil's right wing former president Jair Bolsonaro will appear at the Supreme Court Monday, facing charges of trying to stage a coup to retain power after losing the 2022 elections. In February, prosecutors accused the 70-year-old far-right leader, who governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022, of leading a 'criminal organization' plotting to overturn the election results and preventing the inauguration of leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The plot failed, the charge sheet says, because of a lack of military backing. Bolsonaro also stands accused of having been aware of an alleged plot to assassinate Lula, his vice president Geraldo Alckmin, and judge Alexandre de Moraes -- an arch-foe. Bolsonaro, who is hoping to make a comeback in 2026 presidential elections despite being barred from running, denies the charges. He, along with seven other former aides, are facing sentences of up to 40 years behind bars if convicted. ' Moment of truth' Although he has the right to remain silent, Bolsonaro told reporters last week that he plans to respond 'without any problem' to questions from the court. 'It's an excellent idea to speak openly about the coup. I will be very happy to have the opportunity to clarify what happened,' the former army captain said on Thursday. 'It's the moment of truth.' The Supreme Court headquarters in Brasilia, where Bolsonaro will take the stand, is one of the buildings raided by his supporters, known as the Bolsonaristas, in January 2023 as they urged the military to overthrow Lula. Testimonies will be broadcast live and could last all week. Bolsonaro figures sixth on the list of witnesses and is expected to take the stand on Tuesday or Wednesday. For the former president, the trial will mark a reunion with former allies and sworn enemies. Seven of his co-defendants have also been called to testify, including his former right-hand man Mauro Cid, who has been labeled a traitor by the Bolsonaristas for turning state's witness. Cid's testimony allowed the police to identify the various actors in the coup plot and to lay hands on compromising information exchanges, according to the investigation. Four former ministers and the former heads of Brazil's navy and intelligence agency will also be seated in the dock. While on the stand, Bolsonaro will not only face questions from prosecutors and defence attorneys, but also judge Moraes, whom the former president calls a 'dictator.' 'History' in the making The judicial process has been swifter than usual in this case, said Rogerio Taffarello, a criminal law expert at the Getulio Vargas Foundation. But the end is still a way off, with the court able to call new witnesses as the trial proceeds before getting to the closing arguments and sentencing deliberation. Since the alleged plot was conceived over a long period, and because some of the charges brought are new to the Brazilian system, 'an extremely complex legal discussion' is expected, Taffarello told AFP. Bolsonaro spent the weekend with his lawyers preparing his testimony at the residence of Sao Paulo state governor Tarcisio de Freitas, local media reported. In a preliminary phase, Freitas, who served as Bolsonaro's infrastructure minister, testified for the defence, insisting his boss had 'never touched' on the subject of a coup or 'mentioned any attempt at constitutional disruption.' But two former army commanders confirmed that Bolsonaro had hosted a meeting where the declaration of a 'state of siege' was discussed as a means to overturn Lula's election victory. 'Brazil's history will be written,' Marcio Coimbra, head of the Casa Politica think tank told AFP, pointing out that the trial marked the first ever for an attempted coup under a democratic regime in the country.
The Sun
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Bolsonaro Faces Brazil Supreme Court Over Coup Plot Charges
BRASÍLIA: Brazil's right wing former president Jair Bolsonaro will appear at the Supreme Court Monday, facing charges of trying to stage a coup to retain power after losing the 2022 elections. In February, prosecutors accused the 70-year-old far-right leader, who governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022, of leading a 'criminal organization' plotting to overturn the election results and preventing the inauguration of leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The plot failed, the charge sheet says, because of a lack of military backing. Bolsonaro also stands accused of having been aware of an alleged plot to assassinate Lula, his vice president Geraldo Alckmin, and judge Alexandre de Moraes -- an arch-foe. Bolsonaro, who is hoping to make a comeback in 2026 presidential elections despite being barred from running, denies the charges. He, along with seven other former aides, are facing sentences of up to 40 years behind bars if convicted. 'Moment of truth' Although he has the right to remain silent, Bolsonaro told reporters last week that he plans to respond 'without any problem' to questions from the court. 'It's an excellent idea to speak openly about the coup. I will be very happy to have the opportunity to clarify what happened,' the former army captain said on Thursday. 'It's the moment of truth.' The Supreme Court headquarters in Brasilia, where Bolsonaro will take the stand, is one of the buildings raided by his supporters, known as the Bolsonaristas, in January 2023 as they urged the military to overthrow Lula. Testimonies will be broadcast live and could last all week. Bolsonaro figures sixth on the list of witnesses and is expected to take the stand on Tuesday or Wednesday. For the former president, the trial will mark a reunion with former allies and sworn enemies. Seven of his co-defendants have also been called to testify, including his former right-hand man Mauro Cid, who has been labeled a traitor by the Bolsonaristas for turning state's witness. Cid's testimony allowed the police to identify the various actors in the coup plot and to lay hands on compromising information exchanges, according to the investigation. Four former ministers and the former heads of Brazil's navy and intelligence agency will also be seated in the dock. While on the stand, Bolsonaro will not only face questions from prosecutors and defence attorneys, but also judge Moraes, whom the former president calls a 'dictator.' 'History' in the making The judicial process has been swifter than usual in this case, said Rogerio Taffarello, a criminal law expert at the Getulio Vargas Foundation. But the end is still a way off, with the court able to call new witnesses as the trial proceeds before getting to the closing arguments and sentencing deliberation. Since the alleged plot was conceived over a long period, and because some of the charges brought are new to the Brazilian system, 'an extremely complex legal discussion' is expected, Taffarello told AFP. Bolsonaro spent the weekend with his lawyers preparing his testimony at the residence of Sao Paulo state governor Tarcisio de Freitas, local media reported. In a preliminary phase, Freitas, who served as Bolsonaro's infrastructure minister, testified for the defence, insisting his boss had 'never touched' on the subject of a coup or 'mentioned any attempt at constitutional disruption.' But two former army commanders confirmed that Bolsonaro had hosted a meeting where the declaration of a 'state of siege' was discussed as a means to overturn Lula's election victory. 'Brazil's history will be written,' Marcio Coimbra, head of the Casa Politica think tank told AFP, pointing out that the trial marked the first ever for an attempted coup under a democratic regime in the country.
The Sun
08-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Brazil central bank hikes rate to highest level in 19 years
RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil's central bank on Wednesday hiked its benchmark interest for the sixth consecutive time, citing persistent inflation worries and heightened trade uncertainty surrounding US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs. The increase by the bank -- which has ignored leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's warnings that high rates stifle economic growth -- lifted the benchmark Selic rate to 14.75 percent. The half-point hike puts the rate at its highest level since July 2006. The bank's Monetary Policy Committee cited an 'adverse and particularly uncertain' global outlook, due to the economic situation and policy of the United States,' particularly its trade policy. At home, it noted that annual inflation, which it has forecast to reach 5.5 percent in 2025 and 4.5 percent in 2026, was well above the bank's target of 3.6 percent. A majority of the institutions and consulting firms surveyed by the financial daily Valor had expected the rate hike. Besides high inflation, economist Mauro Rochlin, of the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV), pointed to an 'overheated labor market.' In March, prices in Brazil rose 5.48 percent compared to the same month in 2024. Analysts say persistently fast-rising prices partly explains left-wing Lula's sinking popularity. His approval rating of just 24 percent is at his lowest point in his three terms in office, according to a survey published in February by the Datafolha institute. Rising food costs have fuelled the spike in inflation, leading the government eliminate tariffs on imported products such as meat, sugar, and coffee. On some other measures, the economy has posted progress. Unemployment fell to seven percent in the first quarter of 2025, the lowest for the period since 2014, and GDP grew 3.4 percent in 2024, its strongest increase since 2021.
Washington Post
04-04-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Once called the world's most popular politician, Brazil's Lula faces plummeting approval
RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was once called the most popular politician on Earth by then-U.S. President Barack Obama. Those times are long gone. Halfway through his latest four-year term, Lula's approval rating has plunged down to levels never before seen in any of this three administrations. Brazil's economy is growing and its unemployment is decreasing, but people are complaining about higher food prices and crime. Lula's approval rating has dropped to 24%, according to the country's most prominent pollster Datafolha in its latest February poll, which interviewed 2,007 people across Brazil with a margin of error of 2 percentage points. That is an all-time low across his time in office from 2003 to 2010, and since he took office again in 2023 . The previous record was 28% in 2005. Surveys by other firms also show a rise in discontent. And in an apparent attempt to claw back support, the government on Thursday is hosting an event in the capital, Brasilia. 'The objective is to present the achievements of the Federal Government in the first two years,' the presidential palace said in a statement this week. Lula's difficulties come against a Brazilian political landscape in upheaval, with his predecessor and bitter rival former President Jair Bolsonaro due to stand trial on charges that the right-wing politician attempted a coup . The plunge in support also comes as Lula, 79, weighs whether to run for re-election next year. For many observers, the increase in the cost of food is a top reason for Lula's fall in popularity. Food and drinks were nearly 8% more expensive in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to Brazil's national statistics agency. 'Food inflation has a direct impact on people's lives,' said Carla Beni, a professor of economics at Getulio Vargas Foundation, pointing especially to the rise of the cost of meat, a staple of Brazilians' diet. Beni said prices have soared due to the impact of climate change on crops and the strengthening of the dollar against the real. An uptick in food prices particularly affects the poor – Lula's historical support base. A poll by private firm Genial/Quaest released Wednesday showed a surge in disapproval among women, Black people and in Brazil's poorer northeast. In six months, the percentage of respondents who disapprove of Lula's administration in the northeast jumped from 26% to 46%. And more women have a poor opinion of the government than they do a positive one. 'Not only are things expensive, but we're also living in a dangerous country,' said Anderson Vianna, 45, a sales representative who lives Rio de Janeiro's low-income northern zone. 'If you have your phone in hand, you can't relax,' added the man who voted for Lula in 2002, 2006 and 2022. To reign in food inflation, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin announced on March 6 that the government would reduce import taxes to zero on a series of products, including meat and coffee. But the measure does not appear to have turned the public's perception of the government. João Feres, a political scientist at Rio de Janeiro State University, said Lula's government has a myriad of public policies but 'the problem is communicating the results of these policies.' A blow to Lula came in January, when his government said it would increase oversight of financial transactions, including Brazil's popular instant payment system PIX. That sparked a flurry of fake news pushed by far-right politicians close to Bolsonaro, who said the government planned to impose a new tax on PIX payments. The administration denied the accusation, but ended up backtracking on the step. 'That was the first point that really damaged Lula's image,' said Paulo Feldmann, an economist at the University of Sao Paulo. Crime and violence are other top concerns. 'Since the end of restriction of movement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it's in first place' in the ranking of Brazilians' worries, said Marcos Calliari, the country's director of pollster IPSOS. Over the weekend, the video of an influencer inadvertently filming the moment her phone was stolen at the Lollapalooza festival in Sao Paulo went viral. Almost one in 10 Brazilians had their phone stolen between July 2023 and June 2024, according to Datafolha. Lula has sharpened his tone against thieves in recent weeks. 'We will not allow criminals to take over our country,' he said on March 19. The justice ministry is planning to send a bill to Congress that would increase the maximum sentence for receiving and benefiting from stolen cellphones from eight to up to 12 years, it said in a statement on Friday. Lula's government is also preparing a wider bill on security. To woo back voters, the government is also counting on a proposal to cut taxation for the poor. Mid-March, the administration sent a bill to Congress that seeks to exempt individuals earning up to 5000 reais (around $880) per month from income tax, up from around 2,300 reais currently. If Congress approves the bill, observers say it could be a big win for Lula, though it's uncertain whether it will restore his popularity. With Lula struggling in the polls and Bolsonaro barred from running until 2030 , the next election is much more unpredictable than the previous one , Beni said. Vianna, the sales representative, said he is disappointed and is not sure he would vote for Lula again. 'We need a renewal.'
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bolsonaro trial: A political reset for Brazil?
With far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro headed for trial on coup charges, Brazilians are starting to contemplate a future without the polarizing populist in the picture. The 70-year-old risks a prison sentence of 40 years and political banishment if found guilty of seeking to wrest power from Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after divisive elections the leftist won by a whisker. With 79-year-old Lula's future also uncertain, is this the end of a political era? - A martyr? - "There is a concrete possibility that Bolsonaro will go to prison and in that sense his political future ends there," Daniela Campello, a political science professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a renowned think tank, told AFP. Even if acquitted, Bolsonaro will need to overcome a ban on him holding public office until 2030 -- imposed after he was found guilty of spreading misinformation about Brazil's voting system during the 2022 campaign he lost. The ex-army captain has insisted he will be the candidate of the political right, of which he remains the unchallenged leader, in elections in 2026. Some opinion polls show him beating Lula, who has not stated whether he will seek re-election amid concerns over his health and low approval ratings. Bolsonaro will likely campaign throughout his trial, expected to be held soon so as not to be seen to interfere with the election build-up. "Bolsonaro will go as far as he can with his candidacy to keep his support base as enthusiastic as possible," said analyst Marcio Coimbra of the Casa Politica think tank. Observers say he will likely pick his charismatic wife Michele or one of his politician sons as a running mate to continue the campaign in the event his candidacy is ruled out. "If he is convicted, he could become a martyr," said Jose Niemeyer, a professor of international relations at Brazil's Ibmec University. - Competition on the right? - Among the Brazilian right and far-right -- which together hold the majority in parliament -- challengers to Bolsonaro may start arising as he fights the charges against him, analysts say. One oft-mentioned name is that of Tarcisio de Freitas, governor of Sao Paulo state and a former minister in Bolsonaro's cabinet. Others include Romeu Zema and Ratinho Junior, the governors of Minas Gerais and Parana states. None has openly confirmed a presidential ambition, and all have publicly rallied around the boss. "Bolsonaro is Brazil's main political leader and will remain so," Freitas wrote on X this week. - Lula's loss? - While Bolsonaro's trial should be a boon for Lula, it comes as his own approval rating has dropped to just 24 percent -- the lowest across his first two terms from 2003 and 2010, and the current one that started in 2023. Public anger at high inflation is thought to be the main reason. Analysts say Brazilian voter loyalty is pretty much set in stone regardless of who heads the ticket. But if Bolsonaro disappears into the political abyss by 2026, the effect for Lula -- then 81 -- could be negative too, said Niemeyer. Many voters see his main value as being an "antidote to Bolsonaro," the Ibmec professor said, and with his rival gone, Lula may start appearing replaceable. rsr-jss/app/mlr/cb/mlm
