() — The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, revoked measures of the government of Jair Bolsonaro on his first day as president after taking office this Sunday.
Lula revoked Bolsonaro’s easing of firearms and ammunition controls, which promoted the carrying of weapons in Brazil.
Lula da Silva also reestablished the Amazon Fund, which uses foreign funds for projects that combat deforestation and preserve the environment in this region. Germany and Norway have been the main sponsors of the Amazon Fund so far. Under Bolsonaro, the bottom was left untouched, while then-environment minister Ricardo Salles dissolved the committees responsible for managing resources.
The new president has approved the rebuilding of Brazil’s main environmental agency, Ibama, after Bolsonaro severely cut its budget, causing staff cuts.
Lula signed a decree establishing a federal monthly benefit of 600 reais (about US$113) for low-income families. The original name of the program, Bolsa Família, was reinstated. Bolsonaro had changed the name to Auxilio Brasil during his administration.
Lula also extended fuel tax cuts, a measure introduced by Bolsonaro in 2022 that pushed down prices at gas stations that expired at the end of the year. Lula extended it for 60 days. The move is seen by many as populist and controversial, as it starved the federal administration of resources.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Brazilian indigenous leader and environmentalist Raoni Metuktire in Brasilia, on January 1, 2023. Credit: EVARISTO SA/AFP via Getty Images
These last two acts are “provisional measures”, that is, they are instituted for 60 days to allow time for discussion and voting by Congress.
