Brazil's leftist government made several advances in 2025, but also hit a few roadblocks with its conservative Congress. Here's a look at a year of political victories and challenges, from our correspondent Brian Mier in Brazil. teleSUR
00:00The leftist government made several advances in 2025 but also hit a few roadblocks with its
00:04conservative congress. Here's a look at a year of political victories and challenges from our
00:09correspondent Brian Muir in Brazil. Brazil is governed by a left-wing president but his workers
00:15party and its inner coalition which includes the communists and the greens only controls 15% of
00:21parliament. When all other left of center parties are added they control 24% of the 513 seats in
00:28the lower house. In order to govern the president has to make deals with conservative parties and
00:332025 was marked by political wins and losses.
00:37Brazil's congress has been historically conservative and reactionary in part because of the political system in place in Brazil
00:50which is based primarily on the personal vote. People vote for individuals
00:58We need political reform so people can start voting for parties and platforms that are based on political and ideological frameworks for voters to choose from.
01:08Congressional victories for President Lula in 2025 include raising the maximum income level for income tax exemption by 79%, increasing taxes on large fortunes, and establishing a unified front against the Trump administration's demand
01:24In terms of defeat and challenges this year I would highlight the issue of parliamentary amendments. Congress was able to increase its participation in the budget and will have control over 61 billion reais, the equivalent of our 10 billion dollars, in the federal budget for 2026.
01:31which they can allocate with little democratic oversight.
01:32but everything wasn't smooth sailing.
01:36In terms of defeat and challenges this year,
01:38I would highlight the issue of parliamentary amendments.
01:42Congress was able to increase its participation in the budget
01:45and will have control over 61 billion reais,
01:48the equivalent of over 10 billion dollars,
01:50in the federal budget for 2026,
01:53which they can allocate with little democratic oversight.
01:57Although 2025 was marked by victories and losses
02:00for the Lula administration in Congress,
02:022026 is an election year,
02:04and new coalitions are forming around
02:06different potential presidential candidates.
02:08So what will change in 2026?
02:15I think that President Lula learned a lot in 2025,
02:18and that, knowing what he does know
02:20about how this Congress has been operating,
02:23in 2026 he will take a harder line with Congress.
02:26He isn't going to rely as much on the type of dialogue
02:33his coalition governments have been known for.
02:36I believe he's going to put more pressure on Congress next year.
02:40Brazil's presidential elections will take place
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