Brazil Awaits Policies After Bolsonaro's Campaign Fireworks
- No major economic policy announcements in first week in power
- First days marked by ministerial dissonance and backtracking
Jair Bolsonaro
Photographer: Evaristo Sa/AFP via Getty Images
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For all the promise of a radical break with politics-as-usual and a downsizing of government during Jair Bolsonaro’s turbulent election campaign, his presidency is off to a rather unspectacular start.
Watered down plans to liberalize gun laws finally look set to receive presidential approval. But a pledge to move Brazil’s Israeli embassy to Jerusalem awaits delivery. And on the most crucial issue facing the new administration -- pension reform -- different members of the government are openly at odds. Rather than a flurry of policy directives there’s been a fair amount of dissonance, backtracking and miscommunication.