Crisis in Brazil’s Congress Gives Lula $18.5 Billion in New Fiscal Headaches
- Lawmakers plan expensive votes amid dispute with government
- Lula called emergency meeting Friday amid mounting concerns
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Tensions between President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s administration and Brazil’s Congress are threatening to deal significant setbacks to the government’s efforts to shore up public accounts.
Lower house Speaker Arthur Lira cut ties with Minister of Institutional Relations Alexandre Padilha earlier this month, the latest tumultuous chapter in their often-troubled relationship. But it is the Senate that may deal the biggest blow to Finance Minister Fernando Haddad’s efforts to hit the government’s fiscal targets.