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🤑 Pickpocket politics
Congress gets more control over the budget. A far-right star goes to trial. Brazil’s glaring infrastructure needs
Gustavo Ribeiro & Isabela Cruz
March 21, 2025 • Reading Time: 2 minutes
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Congress further erodes presidential control over spending
Lawmakers celebrate the approval of the 2025 budget at the Joint Budget Committee. Photo: Lula Marques/EBC
Brazil’s Congress finally approved the 2025 federal budget on Thursday. However, in the process, lawmakers further curbed the government’s influence over the allocation of budgetary earmarks, once used as important bargaining chips with the legislative branch.
By the numbers. While the total amount allocated to these earmarks dipped slightly — from BRL 53 to 50.4 billion (USD 9.3 to 8.9 billion) — the share designated as mandatory spending surged from 49% to 77%, as Congress continues its capture of the budget.
Lawmakers also secured an additional BRL 11.2 billion in discretionary spending, through a deal designed to compensate for unpaid transfers from last year.
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