Brazil’s Lula announces welfare increases ahead of presidential election
Government says that increase represents an adjustment for inflation that has eaten away purchasing power since 2023.
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced on Thursday a 15% increase in benefits for his flagship welfare program, Bolsa Familia, weeks before the presidential elections. The minimum monthly benefit per family will rise from 600 reais ($117) to 691 reais ($134) next month. This adjustment aims to adjust payments for accumulated inflation since March 2023, increasing the purchasing power of voters.
The election will determine whether Lula secures a fourth term or if Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, wins in a likely run-off vote. With polls showing the two candidates neck-and-neck, Lula's administration maintains that Bolsa Familia is crucial in supporting vulnerable families and preventing poverty and food insecurity.
Finance Minister Dario Durigan emphasized that the additional spending would be covered within existing budget allocations, not requiring new expenditures.
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