The president’s war with state governors might hamper the tax reform. Courts find oil workers’ strike illegal. And expectations with the Brazilian economy are going down.
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Bolsonaro’s conflict with states could frustrate tax reform
In recent weeks, President Jair Bolsonaro has been in something of a public dispute with state governors. The most recent case concerned the death of crime boss Adriano da Nóbrega, who was killed by Bahia state police last week, though Mr. Nóbrega’s body shows all the signs of professional execution. Mr. Bolsonaro held Bahia Governor Rui Costa—of the opposition Workers’ Party—as accountable for the killing, saying he has ties to known criminals, which is a dig at former President Lula. However, it is Adriano da Nóbrega, an actually known criminal, who has several links to Jair Bolsonaro’s family.
In response, 20 of 27 state governors—many of whom were once Bolsonaro supporters—published an open letter to repudiate the president’s comments. The statement said the president “doesn’t contribute to the improvement of Brazil’s democracy.”
Why it matters. The president’s erratic behavior has dented the trust between his office and state governors who think they could become Mr. Bolsonaro’s...