Good morning! This week, we talk about the elections for new leaders in Congress. Brazil staying out of the war in Ukraine. And Brazil has a primary surplus after eight years of deficits.
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Congress to elect new leaders
The new Congress takes office on February 1, when both the House and Senate will elect their leadership for the next two years.
Why it matters. The House speaker and Senate president hold a great deal of power over the legislative agenda, deciding which bills go to floor votes (and which don’t). They also influence who leads the congressional committees through which bills must pass.
State of play. House Speaker Arthur Lira and Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco are up for re-election and are the heavy favorites — although the race in the Senate is more susceptible to an upset.
House: Arthur Lira has already won
Context. Mr. Lira became speaker in 2021, with an overwhelming majority of 302 out of 513 votes. His power over the legislature was wielded through the “secret budget,”...