Brazilian Cabinet |
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ABout the committee
Welcome to the Brazilian Cabinet of 2022! Here, you will help determine Brazilian policies on key issues in economics, politics, and the environment.
Current president: Jair Bolsonaro, far-right political figure
With the political establishment under increased scrutiny thanks to the Petrobras scandal, a corruption scheme that implicated politicians in accepting bribes from oil giants, a wave of anti-establishment populism gained popularity in Brazil. Just in time for the 2018 presidential elections: enter Jair Bolsonaro, a right-wing nationalist, law-and-order advocate, and head of the Liberal Party. Having left the army in 1988 after 17 years of service, Bolsonaro was first elected to the Rio de Janeiro city council (1989) and then to seven consecutive terms in Brazil’s federal Chamber of Deputies where he established his conservative positions. Bolsonaro won the country’s presidential elections running on a right-wing platform that includes laissez-faire economic policies, Christian nationalism and prohibition of abortion and gay marriages. Although Bolsonaro’s national approval rating sits at 19%, he still has a chance at winning re-election thanks to Brazil’s multiparty democratic system.
Big-ticket issues
COVID
Bolsonaro has overseen the entirety of the Covid-19 pandemic that includes over 25 million cases and 600,000 deaths. Bolsonaro’s early anti-lockdown approach fared well among his conservative base; however, it has become increasingly unpopular with the onset of the omicron variant.
Economic Downturn
Inflation
Inflation in Brazil sat in 10.06% in December of 2021, an 18-year-high that supersedes the Central Bank’s expected 3% inflation rate. Brazilian inflation is slightly slowing, but Brazilian buying power will continue to be harmed until at least 2024. Expect Brazilian voters to look unfavorably upon Bolsonaro’s handling of inflation.
Unemployment
Unemployment remains high at 11.6%, but has dropped to its lowest point since the onset of the coronavirus in February 2020. Bolsonaro’s replacement and expansion of the world-renowned Bolsa Familia scheme is expected to add more jobs to the economy in time for his re-election campaign.
2022 Presidential Election: Lula v. Bolsonaro
Perhaps the most important issue in Brazil is the upcoming October 2 presidential elections. While no two candidates are formally sparring head to head, it is widely expected that the incumbent Bolsonaro will face off against Luiz Ignacio Lula de Silva (colloquially known as Lula in Brazil). Lula served as president from 2003-2010 and oversaw one of the greatest economic booms in Brazilian history with the stock market increasing by 500% and familial incomes doubling. Lula exited office in 2010 with an approval rating of 80% and still remains popular to this day. As the frontrunner from the Worker’s Party, a left-wing party, Lula will likely be Bolsonaro’s greatest challenger. This past January, Lula increased his lead over Bolsonaro by 17 percentage points in one poll suggesting that he would defeat Bolsonaro or any other candidate in a second-round vote. As a result, Bolsonaro has increasingly turned his attention to alleviating economic ails in order to garner support from centrist voters who are willing to lean left for Lula’s good economic track record.
Amazon Rainforest
Bolsonaro’s deregulation of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, for instance, has led to the Amazon losing 10,000 acres a day. While international organizations like the International Criminal Court (ICC) have dubbed his actions “crimes against humanity”, Bolsonaro’s actions have proven popular among conservative farmers who can now use the former rainforest land to produce goods.
Current president: Jair Bolsonaro, far-right political figure
With the political establishment under increased scrutiny thanks to the Petrobras scandal, a corruption scheme that implicated politicians in accepting bribes from oil giants, a wave of anti-establishment populism gained popularity in Brazil. Just in time for the 2018 presidential elections: enter Jair Bolsonaro, a right-wing nationalist, law-and-order advocate, and head of the Liberal Party. Having left the army in 1988 after 17 years of service, Bolsonaro was first elected to the Rio de Janeiro city council (1989) and then to seven consecutive terms in Brazil’s federal Chamber of Deputies where he established his conservative positions. Bolsonaro won the country’s presidential elections running on a right-wing platform that includes laissez-faire economic policies, Christian nationalism and prohibition of abortion and gay marriages. Although Bolsonaro’s national approval rating sits at 19%, he still has a chance at winning re-election thanks to Brazil’s multiparty democratic system.
Big-ticket issues
COVID
Bolsonaro has overseen the entirety of the Covid-19 pandemic that includes over 25 million cases and 600,000 deaths. Bolsonaro’s early anti-lockdown approach fared well among his conservative base; however, it has become increasingly unpopular with the onset of the omicron variant.
Economic Downturn
Inflation
Inflation in Brazil sat in 10.06% in December of 2021, an 18-year-high that supersedes the Central Bank’s expected 3% inflation rate. Brazilian inflation is slightly slowing, but Brazilian buying power will continue to be harmed until at least 2024. Expect Brazilian voters to look unfavorably upon Bolsonaro’s handling of inflation.
Unemployment
Unemployment remains high at 11.6%, but has dropped to its lowest point since the onset of the coronavirus in February 2020. Bolsonaro’s replacement and expansion of the world-renowned Bolsa Familia scheme is expected to add more jobs to the economy in time for his re-election campaign.
2022 Presidential Election: Lula v. Bolsonaro
Perhaps the most important issue in Brazil is the upcoming October 2 presidential elections. While no two candidates are formally sparring head to head, it is widely expected that the incumbent Bolsonaro will face off against Luiz Ignacio Lula de Silva (colloquially known as Lula in Brazil). Lula served as president from 2003-2010 and oversaw one of the greatest economic booms in Brazilian history with the stock market increasing by 500% and familial incomes doubling. Lula exited office in 2010 with an approval rating of 80% and still remains popular to this day. As the frontrunner from the Worker’s Party, a left-wing party, Lula will likely be Bolsonaro’s greatest challenger. This past January, Lula increased his lead over Bolsonaro by 17 percentage points in one poll suggesting that he would defeat Bolsonaro or any other candidate in a second-round vote. As a result, Bolsonaro has increasingly turned his attention to alleviating economic ails in order to garner support from centrist voters who are willing to lean left for Lula’s good economic track record.
Amazon Rainforest
Bolsonaro’s deregulation of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, for instance, has led to the Amazon losing 10,000 acres a day. While international organizations like the International Criminal Court (ICC) have dubbed his actions “crimes against humanity”, Bolsonaro’s actions have proven popular among conservative farmers who can now use the former rainforest land to produce goods.
