Lula Reelected, Faces Congress, Fiscal and Environmental Battles

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s reelection gives him another opportunity to advance climate and environmental policies, building on sharp reductions in Amazon deforestation and a restoration of environmental governance during his previous term. But a conservative, agribusiness-friendly majority in Congress could impede his goals, while supporters and government officials have also resisted tougher spending cuts, complicating efforts to address rising public debt. Lula faces pressure to turn his environmental and fiscal ambitions into workable plans without alienating the political constituencies that helped him win.