The current president has had difficulties in his relationship with Congress throughout the year, and internationally, conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza have dominated the news
The digital newspaper Poder360 brings this Monday (January 1, 2024) a retrospective of the issues that have marked the agenda of power and politics in 2023.
The year was intense. There was the beginning of the 3rd term of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), the tax reform, the wars in Ukraine and Israel. Time passed in step with the networks. Fast, almost ephemeral. But he left his marks.
Watch the retrospective (24m58s):
Lula walked up the ramp of the Palácio do Planalto for the third time on January 1, 2023. For the first time since redemocratization, an incumbent president did not pass the banner to his successor. Jair Bolsonaro (PL) went to the United States before finishing his term. And there he remained until the end of March.
The inauguration was historic. In front of 160 thousand people, according to the calculations of Poder360, Lula received the presidential sash from representatives of civil society. It was unprecedented.
The attacks of January 8 showed the degree of polarization in the country and how open the wounds of the presidential dispute are still open. After 1 year the situation has changed little. OR PowerData showed in December that Lula’s popularity dropped from 52% to 46% from January to December. The much vaunted national union has not yet materialized.
Economy
In 2023, the Brazilian economy beat expectations and was expected to grow by 3%. Official data has not yet been released. At the beginning of the year, the market projection, taken from the Central Bank’s Focus bulletin, was for an increase of less than 1%.
During the year, inflation was mainly controlled by the Central Bank. Despite government pressure for a rapid decline in the interest rate, Roberto Campos Neto kept the Selic at 13.75% until August. Then a sequence of declines began which, until the last COPOM meeting, on 13 December, was at 11.75%.
Now, the expectation is that this process will continue into 2024.
Another data that marked the Brazilian economy in 2023 was the trade balance. The country had the largest surplus in history. Through November, exports exceeded imports by $89 billion, equivalent to around R$430 billion. Analysts say the move is sustainable and Brazil should consolidate itself as one of the top exporters of products in the world.
Congress
President Lula’s life was not easy at the 2023 National Congress. Even with União Brasil, MDB and PSD, totaling 146 deputies, occupying ministries, the president had difficulty approving projects.
Changes were made in ministries during the year. The PP and the Republicans now have a share of the government. But negotiations continue to take place one by one.
The great achievement of the year was the approval of the tax reform in the House and Senate. All politicians called it not the best reform. But rather a possible reform. And he managed to unite the government and Congress.
International
The year was characterized by developments in the war between Russia and Ukraine and the beginning of the armed conflict between Israel and the extremist group Hamas.
Additionally, the election of libertarian Javier Milei in Argentina has gained prominence in Brazilian news.
2024-01-01 16:03:10
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