BRASILIA — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Monday said he is confident the lower House will vote to raise a government spending cap and stagger payment of court-ordered debts, but he foresees trouble for passage in the Senate. ADVERTISEMENTThe bill would allow for 92 billion reais ($16.7 billion) of additional spending next year, including a more generous monthly welfare stipend for 17 million poor families. Bolsonaro compared Bolsa Familia to vote buying in his 2018 campaign. The push to overhaul Brazil’s fiscal rules spooked investors last month and has also drawn scrutiny from the Supreme Court. Supreme Court Justice Rosa Weber issued an injunction on Friday that could bar some 8.5 billion in pork barrel spending that the government attached to the bill to win backing of lawmakers.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 09, 2021 13:09 UTC