Brazil’s Lula announces welfare increases ahead of presidential election

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced a 15 percent increase in welfare benefits under the 'Bolsa Familia' poverty alleviation program, raising minimum monthly benefits from 600 to 691 reais. Lula stated that this adjustment aims to counter the impacts of rising inflation since 2023. He is facing a political challenge from Flavio Bolsonaro, with polls indicating a tight race ahead of the first round of voting on October 4.