Brazil House Speaker Signals Opposition to Lula Fiscal Plan

The leader of Brazil’s lower house of Congress signaled that lawmakers may strike down a proposal from President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to raise taxes, casting doubt on the government’s latest plan to meet its fiscal goals.

“The mood in the lower house is not favorable to raising taxes with the aim of increasing revenue to solve our fiscal problems,” Speaker Hugo Motta said in a social media post Thursday, adding that he and congressional leaders had discussed a move to block the government’s plans from taking effect.