Politics · Brazil · 1 hr ago
Flavio Bolsonaro pledges budget savings without cutting social spending
Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro has pledged a 200 billion real fiscal adjustment if elected president.
He is due to face leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff on October 25.
Bolsonaro says he would avoid cuts to social spending, rejecting reported proposals to limit minimum-wage increases and social benefits.
He says savings would come from eliminating ministries, addressing mismanagement at state-run firms and using federal property assets.
Brazil's gross debt has risen to 82.9% of GDP during Lula's term, and Bolsonaro says he would not reverse a recent change shortening the working week.
The size of the proposed savings is in doubt because Bolsonaro has not provided detailed plans for the cuts and commitments involved.
Flavio Bolsonaro said he would seek a 200 billion reais fiscal adjustment if elected president of Brazil.
He said the plan would not cut social spending commitments, rejecting reports that his campaign was considering such measures.
He said savings would come from eliminating ministries, addressing mismanagement at state-controlled firms and monetizing federal real estate.
A separate report said the promise, made in July, had drawn doubts because Bolsonaro had not detailed the cuts.
Bolsonaro is due to face President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff on October 25.
- Who
- Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, who is running for president.
- What
- He pledged a 200 billion reais fiscal adjustment without cutting social spending.
- When
- He made the pledge in an interview on Friday, October 16. He had first made a related promise in July.
- Where
- Brazil.
- Why
- He said he wanted to curb Brazil's rising public debt.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Bolsonaro made a promise of a fiscal adjustment equivalent to 1.5% of GDP.
Bolsonaro said in a TV Globo interview that he would seek a 200 billion reais adjustment without touching social spending.
Bolsonaro is due to face President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff.
- Fiscal adjustment pledge
- 200 billion reais
- Earlier pledge
- 1.5% of GDP, made in July
- Proposed savings
- Eliminating ministries, tackling mismanagement at state-controlled firms, and monetizing federal real estate
- Brazil's gross debt
- 82.9% of GDP
- Runoff date
- October 25
4 sources
Vento político e falta de detalhe põem em dúvida tamanho de corte de Flávio
Brazil's Flavio Bolsonaro pledges fiscal adjustment, rejects cuts to social spending
Flávio discute com empresários plano para elevar idade de aposentadoria e rever Bolsa Família
What people are saying
There has been a lot of fake news circulating, and this is an important moment to set the record straight