Brazil’s newly elected President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has moved to erase the legacy of his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro by tightening gun control and limiting gold mining in the Amazon rainforest.
After his inauguration on Sunday, the leftist president revoked an executive order that made it easier to buy guns and an ordinance that allowed “artificial” gold mining on indigenous land.
He also ordered his ministers to end studies on the possibility of privatizing energy group Petrobras and the national postal service Correios, and revoked the Bolsonaro administration’s 11-hour decree reducing taxes for big companies. He reiterated promises to waive the constitutionally mandated limit on the country’s public spending, which he called “stupidity”.
The moves, in line with Lula’s commitment to adopt a more pragmatic approach to managing Latin America’s largest economy, are likely to generate concern in the Brazilian business community following the change Bolsonaro’s free market.
After defeating Bolsonaro Falling less than 2 percentage points in October, the 77-year-old former metal worker on Sunday was sworn in for a historic third term at a rowdy ceremony in Brasília, home to political and ceremonial activism. Celebrations are like festivals.
Lula previously served two terms as president from 2003 to 2010 during a period of strong Brazilian growth fueled by a global commodity boom.
Despite her pledge to national unity, Lula did not support Bolsonaro in her early actions, criticizing the right-wing populist for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and economic and social policies that he had not been able to take. The new president claimed to have caused “national destruction”.
“This responsibility [Covid] Genocide must be investigated and cannot go unpunished,” Lula told Congress in his inaugural address in a clear reference to his predecessor, who on Friday flew to Florida. to avoid attending the inauguration.
Brazil’s new president said his first goal is to end the hunger of 33 million citizens and the poverty that affects 100 million Brazilians, adding that “no country has risen or can.” rise above the misery of the people”.
The veteran leftist reiterated his pledge to end the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and re-establish the multibillion-dollar Amazon Fund, which was used to tackle deforestation but was frozen under the Bolsonaro administration.
Internationally, Lula has promised to strengthen relations with Brazil’s neighbors and pursue regional integration.
The new president on Monday will meet the 17 heads of state who attended his inauguration, with the leaders of Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador as well as the King of Spain featured on the agenda. Meetings have also been scheduled with representatives from Venezuela and Cuba.
Additional reporting by Carolina Ingizza
