Brazil Attacks Could Put Lula's Priorities on Backburner
Brazil Attacks Could Put Lula's Priorities on Backburner
"It was already going to be a difficult presidency, and this takes that up several notches," said AS/COA's Cecilia Tornaghi to Axios.
The riots by Jair Bolsonaro supporters at Brazil’s major political institutions may slow President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s agenda. […]
The big picture: Lula, who took office Jan. 1, already faced major challenges, including deep political polarization, slow economic growth, increased poverty, and rampant Amazon deforestation.
- "It was already going to be a difficult presidency, and this takes that up several notches," Cecilia Tornaghi, senior director for policy at Americas Society/Council of the Americas, tells Axios Latino.
- Tornaghi says that was probably at least partly the point — the rioters wanted to send the message that they can disrupt government operations and create chaos if they want to.
What they're saying: Lula's swift response with the federal intervention, which got quick support from the incoming leaders of the House, Senate and current chief justice, indicates his government won't let this early aggression mark the rest of his presidency, Tornaghi says.
- "He's signaling they won't hide or cower," she says.
