Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva faces an uphill battle with the nation’s Congress for another two years. Lawmakers are gathering to potentially elect leaders for both the House and Senate, who have pledged to maintain tight control over the federal budget.
Hugo Motta is expected to become the Speaker of the House, with Davi Alcolumbre taking the Senate presidency. Both have garnered support by committing to empowering Congress to decide on allocating a larger portion of Brazil’s budget, regardless of the Lula administration's priorities.
Members of Congress now oversee nearly a quarter of the government's funds for investments and policy implementation, a significant increase over the past decade.
Creomar de Souza, from Dharma political consultancy firm, anticipates that the struggle will escalate further.
Lula, currently grappling with declining approval ratings and mounting pressure to fulfill campaign promises, faces a daunting challenge from investors and voters alike.
A recent Genial/Quaest poll reveals a drop in Lula's approval rating to 47%, the lowest since assuming office in January 2023.
Motta, chosen by outgoing speaker Arthur Lira, is set to continue the trend of allocating a larger budget share to congressional pet projects.
With Motta and Alcolumbre likely to emulate the leadership styles of their predecessors, Lula is poised for a tough political landscape, given his recent struggles with Congress.
To secure support, Lula may need to accommodate Alcolumbre’s demands, potentially offering him a cabinet position, according to a source from Lula’s Workers Party in the Senate.
In a rare press conference, Lula affirmed that he will not interfere in the Congress election outcome, expressing willingness to collaborate with whomever is elected.