Economist Podcasts Lula loop: meeting Brazil’s presidential front-runner
Sep 29, 2022
Sarah Maslin, The Economist's Brazil correspondent, shares her insights on Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's potential return to power, debating whether Brazil would see a fiscal conservative or a populist. Wendelin von Bredow, the senior Germany correspondent, discusses Germany's economic woes, like its heavy reliance on Russian gas and the looming threat of deindustrialization. The podcast also touches on the revival of Vietnam's loudspeakers and what this retro move signifies in today's digital world.
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Lula's Uncertain Return
- Brazil faces a crucial presidential election between incumbent Jair Bolsonaro and leftist former president Lula da Silva.
- Lula's potential return raises questions about his governing style: fiscally conservative or populist spendthrift?
Which Lula?
- Lula's previous two terms differed in fiscal approach, creating uncertainty about his potential third term.
- His successor, Dilma Rousseff's, interventionist policies led to a deep recession, adding to the uncertainty.
Lula's Achievements and Challenges
- Lula highlighted his past economic and social achievements, including growth, debt reduction, and poverty reduction.
- However, Brazil's current economic and political climate is more challenging than during his previous terms.