Brazil Parties Push to Reverse Fiscal Rule Change in New Vote

  • Bill makes room in budget for Bolsonaro’s new social program
  • Text passed first vote by narrow margin early Thursday
Jair Bolsonaro on March 31, 2021.Photographer: Andressa Anholete/Bloomberg
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Brazilian parties that are part of the opposition to Jair Bolsonaro’s government are putting pressure on their congressmen to kill a bill that loosens the country’s spending cap.

The proposal that helps fund Bolsonaro’s new signature social program, providing cash handouts of 400 reais ($72) to poor families in the run-up to next year’s elections, passed a first-round vote early Thursday with 312 votes, just four over the 308 needed. Another 144 lawmakers voted against the bill.