New Leaders in Brazil’s Congress Unlikely to Bring Respite for a Struggling Lula

2/2/2025 7:15

Brazil's House and Senate elected new leaders on Saturday who promised independence from the administration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during their two-year terms, which will be the final stretch of Lula’s presidency.



While expected, the election of representative Hugo Motta, for speaker of the House, and Davi Alcolumbre, to head the Senate, is likely to pose challenges for Brazil's leftist leader amid declining approval ratings.



Both men have gained support from conservatives and liberals alike partly by promising to fight for Congress to determine the destination of an ever-bigger share of Brazil's federal budget, which may be spent regardless of the Lula administration's priorities.