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PoliticsBrazil

Lula: Latin American leaders greet new Brazilian president

January 2, 2023

Markets have slumped in Brazil over fears President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will sacrifice the economy to push forward with social policies.

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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, right, and Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez hold a bilateral meeting at Itamaraty Palace, the day after Lula's inauguration in Brasilia, Brazil
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (r), who has returned to power as Brazil’s president for a third term, met with Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez (l) on MondayImage: Eraldo Peres/AP/picture alliance

Latin American leaders met with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday, as the Brazilian president settled into his first day in office to the news that stocks had fallen more than 3%, led by a selloff of shares in state-run oil company Petrobras.

With Lula keen on prioritizing social issues and a decision to extend a fuel tax exemption, which will deprive the Treasury of 52.9 billion reals ($9.9 billion, €9.24 billion) a year in fiscal income, Brazil's Finance Minister Fernando Haddad attempted to dispel market fears that he might not maintain fiscal discipline. "We are not here for adventures," he said.

Fighting Amazon deforestation a Lula priority

President Lula has said his priorities are fighting poverty, as well as investing in education and health.

He has also said he will bring illegal deforestation of the Amazon to an end. As he saw off his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, in a tensely fought election, Lula sought support from political moderates to form a broad front, then tapped some of them to serve in his Cabinet.

In the first half of the day on Monday, he met with Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez, Bolivia's Luis Arce and Guillermo Lasso of Ecuador. Later on Monday he is slated to sit down with Chile's Gabriel Boric and Colombia's Gustavo Petro. Other senior political figures also traveled to the Brazilian capital of Brasilia on Sunday, such as Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, to congratulate Lula on his inauguration.

On Monday afternoon, Lula is meeting with Wang Qishan, the vice president of China, by far Brazil's biggest export destination.

Lula to attend Pele's wake

Meanwhile, President Lula's office said he will attend the wake for Pele on Tuesday as Brazil mourned the late football legend, who died last week.

Lula, who took office on Sunday, "will pay his respects and tribute to Edson Arantes do Nascimento, 'Pele,' and his condolences to his family on Tuesday at 9:00 am (1200 GMT)," his office said in a statement.

The coffin of the three-time World Cup winner has been placed in the center circle of the Santos FC stadium, where he played for most of his career, located in the Vila Belmiro neighborhood of Santos, Sao Paulo. As well as Lula, thousands of fans are expected to walk past and show their respect.

jsi/sri (AP, AFP, Reuters)