Brazil-U.S. Relations
Abstract
On January 1, 2007, Luis Inacio "Lula" da Silva, of the leftist Workers' Party (PT), was inaugurated for a second four-year term as President of Brazil. Lula was re-elected in the second round of voting with fairly broad popular support. His immediate tasks were to boost Brazil's lagging economic growth and address the issues of crime, violence, and poverty. Despite President Lula's personal popularity, many predicted that intra-party rivalries within his governing coalition would make it hard for him to push his agenda through Brazil's notoriously fractured legislature. President Lula enjoys high approval ratings (72% in June 2008) and is benefitting from a strong economy (GDP growth exceeded 5% in 2007). Ongoing corruption investigations involving President Lula's PT party have not diminished the strength of his second ten% in office, and some are urging him to seek a third presidential ten%, a move that would require a constitutional amendment. Some have criticized President Lula, however, for thus far being unwilling or unable to use his significant political capital to gain legislative approval for a more robust political and economic reform agenda. Few predict that either President Lula or the Brazilian Congress will take action on any major reform agenda until after the October 2008 municipal elections are held.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 18, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA487031
Entities
People
- Alessandra Durand
- Clare R. Seelke
Organizations
- Library of Congress