Brazil Starts Debating New Covid Aid With Pandemic at Its Worst
Samy Adghirni and Martha Beck, Bloomberg News People wearing protective masks walk through a market in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Thursday, July 30, 2020. Brazil added 69,074 cases on Wednesday, pushing the total number of infections to over 2.55 million, according to the Health Ministry. , Bloomberg
(Bloomberg) Brazilâs senate started discussing a $7 billion round of Covid aid for the poor as a new wave of the pandemic batters the economy and pushes the health system to the brink of collapse.
The plan to revive last yearâs cash handout program is part of a constitutional amendment that includes compensatory fiscal measures sought by Economy Minister Paulo Guedes to show the government remains committed to fiscal austerity after a record budget deficit in 2020.
(Bloomberg) Brazil’s senate backed a $7.8 billion round of Covid aid for the poor as a new wave of the pandemic batters the economy and pushes the health system to the brink of collapse. The plan to revive last year’s cash handout program is part of a constitutional amendment that includes compensatory fiscal measures demanded by Economy Minister Paulo Guedes to show the government remains committed to austerity after a record budget deficit.
Brazil Senate Backs Covid Aid With Fiscal Fix as Pandemic Soars
Bloomberg 3/4/2021 Samy Adghirni and Martha Beck
(Bloomberg) Brazil’s senate backed a $7.8 billion round of Covid aid for the poor as a new wave of the pandemic batters the economy and pushes the health system to the brink of collapse.
The plan to revive last year’s cash handout program is part of a constitutional amendment that includes compensatory fiscal measures demanded by Economy Minister Paulo Guedes to show the government remains committed to austerity after a record budget deficit in 2020.
Senators approved the so-called emergency bill in two rounds of voting on Wednesday night and Thursday. They rejected all amendments that sought to further water down Guedes’s austerity measures, showing organization of government allies and fueling a rally in local assets as investors breathed a sigh of relief. The proposal now moves to the lower house, with a possible vote next week.
Bolsonaro delivers Eletrobras privatization measure to Brazil s Congress reuters.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from reuters.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Ricardo Brito
(Recasts with Bolsonaro delivering measure to Congress, adds government statement)
BRASILIA, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro went to Congress on Tuesday to deliver a provisional measure associated with his government’s plans to privatize state-run electricity provider Eletrobras .
Bolsonaro, who is under fire for announcing a shakeup at Petrobras that sent the oil company’s stock tumbling due to fears of government meddling, delivered the measure in person to show his commitment to privatizing state firms.
“Our privatization agenda is going full steam ahead,” he said after meeting with the leaders of Congress.
Senate head Rodrigo Pacheco and lower chamber Speaker Arthur Lira said the measure, a decree that requires congressional approval, would be fast-tracked.