The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, on Thursday signed a decree to increase the benefits of his social program by 15 percent. This action comes ahead of the first round of the presidential elections.
Details of the increase in assistance
The monthly benefits for each family under the "Bolsa Família" (Family Grant) program will increase from 600 reais to 691 reais (134 dollars). This decree adjusts payments based on the inflation rate accumulated since March 2023.
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Impact on elections and society
This action will help increase the purchasing power of voters, who in October will decide whether to grant Lula a fourth non-consecutive term or elect Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Polls indicate that the two are currently in a tight race.
Dario Durigan, the Minister of Finance, stated: "Bolsa Família is central to our strategy to support vulnerable families, and its goal is to ensure income to escape poverty and prevent food insecurity."
The increase in costs will be absorbed within existing budgets and will not represent a new expense.
Lula introduced this cash assistance program at the beginning of his first term in 2003. The program provides financial assistance to low-income families and is conditional on children attending school and meeting health requirements such as vaccinations.
The Bolsa Família program has been the subject of thousands of scientific studies in Brazil and beyond, reporting significant reductions in poverty, inequality, and infant mortality. Researchers have also noted increased access to essential health services and improved student attendance.
Bolsonaro replaced this program with "Auxílio Brasil" (Brazil Aid) ahead of the 2022 elections, which analysts viewed as an attempt to rebrand the popular program associated with Lula. Lula defeated Bolsonaro in the last election, who is currently sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempting a coup.
Last week, Lula signed a decree and a temporary measure to reduce fuel prices, as the U.S.-Iran war has increased fuel costs. Fuel prices are a sensitive issue for voters.
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Source: abcnews.com
