Today, how Economy Minister Paulo Guedes continues to lose power. What is positive about Brazil’s recent job numbers. And a shift by Argentina that could rock Venezuela.
The Paulo Guedes realm to be fragmented?
When Jair Bolsonaro won the 2018 presidential election, he unveiled his economic advisor Paulo Guedes as a “super minister.” His Economy Ministry was the result of merging four existing cabinet ministries: Finance, Industry and Trade, Planning, and Labor. But as Mr. Guedes’ influence within the government wanes and Mr. Bolsonaro cozies up to traditional parties, rumors of a split in the Economy Ministry began circulating in Brasília corridors.
What they are planning. A first step could be recreating the Labor Ministry, according to reports. But sources told Brasília correspondent Débora Álvares that the old Trade Ministry might also see a rebirth.
Why do it? From a political perspective, the move would give Jair Bolsonaro attractive assets to offer parties in exchange for support in Congress.
- But besides giving the president horse-trading tools, it could also make the administration more effective. The Economy Ministry encompasses areas that require several fields of expertise, and senior officials told The Brazilian Report that “the minister himself doesn’t grasp all...