Overview
- On Monday, Cities Minister Jader Filho said Brazil cannot postpone discussing free public transport and pledged to move once Lula‑requested studies from the Finance Ministry are delivered.
- He said the current financing model is unsustainable, citing system deterioration and declining ridership, and called for a cost‑sharing pact across federal, state and municipal levels.
- Officials will draft a proposal only after the technical numbers are presented, with municipal trials of free service on select days informing the federal approach.
- Reporting indicates a full nationwide rollout during Lula’s current term is viewed as unlikely, with partial measures such as Sundays and holidays or placement in the 2026 campaign platform under consideration.
- The Cities Ministry said it has committed nearly all of the R$ 501.4 million released in late November as it manages near‑term mobility funding.