Lula Praises Congress, Softens Tone as Key Budget and Tax Votes Loom

Overview

• At an ApexBrasil event, Lula said Congress was "very correct" on economic matters and credited lawmakers with approving the government’s priority measures.
• He said items that failed did so because the government lacked the ability to persuade, framing the setbacks as shortcomings in political coordination.
• In a TV interview, he denied a rift with Senate President Davi Alcolumbre and Chamber President Hugo Motta, asserting that roughly 99% of government proposals were approved.
• Lula said he is working to secure Senate confirmation of Attorney‑General Jorge Messias to the Supreme Court after the hearing was delayed to 2026 and resistance surfaced.
• Congress’s agenda this week includes votes on the 2026 budget, possible regulation of the tax reform, changes to the fiscal framework to allow more health and education spending, and a bill to cut tax benefits, as the government also touted 500 new foreign markets at ApexBrasil’s headquarters inauguration.