Millions of poor Brazilian families will get their monthly welfare money earlier than usual, just days before the country votes in a presidential run-off. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s government says the change is about the weather. His opponents say it is about winning an election.
\n\nThe run-off is on Sunday. Lula, who is 80, is slightly behind in the polls against Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, 45, who finished first in the opening round on Oct. 4. Bolsonaro took 47 percent, about two points ahead of Lula, but that was not enough for an outright win. Some recent polls suggest Lula is closing the gap.
\n\nLula is going for a fourth term, though not consecutive, and he has said this will be his last campaign.
\n\nOfficials in Brasilia say the reason is an unusually strong El Nino weather pattern, which can bring drought and flooding, and they want families to have a cushion. The Financial Times noted that Lula’s governments have moved payments forward before in regions hit by natural disasters.
\n\nThese deposits are also the first to include a 15 percent increase Lula announced last month. That raises the average payment to R$777, or about US$154. The opposition has…
Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/delhi
