International

Bolsonaro courts powerful bloc with minister appointment

AFP

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro, whose popularity has plummeted recently, on Tuesday named a senator from the largest bloc in congress as his new chief of staff.

Ciro Nogueira, 52, who represents the right-wing and center-right “centrao” (large center) bloc, will take on the role of minister of the civil house, a Cabinet-level position that is equivalent to a chief of staff.

“I have just accepted the honorable invitation from President Jair Bolsonaro to take over the Civil House,” said Nogueira on Twitter during a meeting with the president in Brasilia.

Nogueira is president of the Progressistas (Progressives) party that is among those to be courted recently by Bolsonaro, who ran for election in 2018 by opposing the “old politics” of such parties.

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Legislators from the centrao bloc are known to offer votes in exchange for investment in their states, while their support for presidents can be fickle.

For example, many legislators from the bloc initially supported leftist Dilma Rousseff (2011-16) before subsequently voting for her impeachment.

This “give and take” form of governance has led to numerous scandals and corruption investigations over the years.

Bolsonaro spent almost 30 years of his political career with parties in the centrao, but he affiliated himself with the far right PSL when running for president in 2018 on an anti-establishment ticket.

He broke from the PSL just a few months later.

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Initially he tried to govern without support from the centrao but his chaotic pandemic management and embroilment in a corruption scandal related to the purchase of vaccines saw his popularity plummet to just 24 percent.

Bolsonaro was thus forced to court the centrao, particularly with a general election just over a year away.

This year, he supported the election of two centrao legislators to head the Chamber of Deputies and Senate.

“I’m from the centrao, I was born here,” Bolsonaro said last week in defense of his imminent appointment of Nogueira.

In the latest opinion polls he has trailed well behind leftist former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (2003-2010).

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International

US panel backs Trump-themed coin amid controversy

The United States Department of the Treasury confirmed to AFP that the Commission of Fine Arts approved the design of a new collectible coin featuring Donald Trump, with members of the commission appointed by the current administration.

According to the proposal, the coin will feature an image of Trump standing with clenched fists over a desk on the obverse, while the reverse will display an eagle, a traditional symbol of the United States.

The sale price of the collectible has not yet been disclosed, although the United States Mint typically offers similar items for more than $1,000.

“There is no more iconic portrait for the front of these coins than that of our president Donald Trump,” U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said in a statement sent to AFP. He added that two additional coins — a $1 piece and a one-ounce gold coin — are also under consideration.

However, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), another body responsible for reviewing new coin proposals, declined to discuss the Trump design in late February.

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“Only nations governed by kings or dictators place the image of a sitting leader on their currency,” said Donald Scarinciat the time. “No country in the world has minted coins featuring a democratically elected leader during their term in office,” he added.

When contacted by AFP, the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

International

Fed’s Waller warns of rising inflation risks amid Middle East conflict

Christopher Waller, a governor at the Federal Reserve, said Friday that he is increasingly concerned about the inflationary impact of the ongoing conflict involving United States and Israel against Iran, particularly due to the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Waller, who had supported interest rate cuts over the past year amid concerns about the labor market, said he has shifted his stance in recent weeks due to rising inflation risks.

“Since the Strait of Hormuz was closed, it suggests this conflict could be much more prolonged and that oil prices will remain elevated for longer,” Waller said in an interview with CNBC.

“Therefore, this indicates that inflation is a greater concern than I had previously assessed,” he added.

Waller also backed the Federal Reserve’s decision earlier this week to keep interest rates unchanged, signaling a more cautious approach as global geopolitical tensions continue to affect economic outlooks.

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International

Brazil offers to mediate Colombia-Ecuador tensions, calls for restraint

The government of Brazil has offered to mediate in the ongoing tensions between Colombia and Ecuador, while calling on both nations to exercise restraint.

In a statement released Wednesday, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the parties involved to act with moderation and seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

“Brazil encourages all sides to act with moderation in order to find a peaceful solution to the controversy. It stands ready to support dialogue efforts aimed at preserving peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

Brazil also expressed “serious concern” over reports of deaths in the border area between Colombia and Ecuador, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incidents have not yet been clarified.

The diplomatic move comes amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries, increasing regional concern over stability and security along their shared border.