Bolsonaro: Aid to Brazil’s poor to rise 58% amid high food costs

If confirmed, the 58 percent increase in aid announced by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in a TV interview late on Tuesday would be far higher than the one under consideration by the country’s economy ministry.

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro said in a TV interview that his government would raise monthly payments under a popular welfare programme to 300 reais from 190 reais (to $60 from $38) starting in December. If confirmed, the 58 percent increase announced by Bolsonaro in an interview with the RecordTV channel late on Tuesday would be far higher than the one under consideration at the country’s economy ministry and put Brazil’s public finances back under the microscope. Officials had indicated that the “Bolsa Familia” programme could be raised to 250 reais ($50), but Bolsonaro, whose popularity has plummeted during the coronavirus crisis, said the increase was necessary to compensate for food inflation.