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Brazilian elections: Lula’s victory to revive EU-Mercosur agreement

(EurActiv, 28 Oct 2022) The much-criticised free trade agreement between the EU and the four Latin American countries in Mercosur is currently at a standstill but could be revived if Socialist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wins the Brazilian presidential elections on Sunday (30 October).

While the agreement was supported by incumbent Brazilian President Jaïr Bolsonaro, it has been blocked by European countries due to increased deforestation in the Amazon resulting from Bolsonaro’s policies.

France vetoed the deal in August 2019, followed by Germany in August 2020, before European parliamentarians voted against it in October of the same year. Since then, their positions have not changed.

But with the upcoming Brazilian elections, the agreement could be resurrected, especially if Bolsonaro’s rival, often simply referred to as Lula, wins.

An agreement within six months

Reuters reported that the former president (2003-2010), who is running for a third term, said he wanted to reach an agreement “within six months” if elected on Sunday. He has more or less maintained this position throughout the election campaign.

“He already said it during his previous term: for him, Brazil will pay its debt with soybeans,” Greens/EFA MEP Claude Gruffat told EURACTIV France. The environmentalist admits that Lula’s accession to power may accelerate the ratification process.

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EurActiv, 28 Oct 2022: Brazilian elections: Lula’s victory to revive EU-Mercosur agreement