Brazil's 'Lula' Still Confident on Economic Growth

Broadcast: Mar¹ 24, 2003

 

In Brazil, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, known as "Lula", is struggling to expand his nation's economy and his government's programs for the poor even as the war in the Persian Gulf² puts pressure on economic growth prospects³ worldwide. Almost three months into his term, the Brazilian leader is contending with numerous problems, including ¹⁾friction within his own party.

When he was elected last year, President da Silva promised to provide his people with more jobs and expectations, especially among the poor, were set high. Now, with the worldwide economy still struggling to find its footing and a war raging in Iraq, the outlook for job growth in Brazil is somewhat clouded.

Political analyst⁴ David Fleischer, speaking to VOA by telephone from his office in the capital of Brasilia, says administration officials remain confident that the war will have little or no effect on Brazil's economic growth.

"There are some in Lula's government who actually feel that exports might even increase and that capital flows to emerging markets, especially Brazil, might even be stronger," he said. "That may be wishful thinking and we will have to wait and see what the major consequences of the war are."

For now, Mr. Fleischer points out, the da Silva government is taking a moderate approach, continuing many of the same programs that were started under the previous administration of Fernando Henrique Cardoso. Since Brazil's tax rates are already high and its foreign and domestic debt is enormous, amounting to well over $250 billion, President da Silva has concentrated on cutting costs rather than expanding new programs.

This has led to strife⁵ within his own Workers' Party, with so-called Radicals⁷ condemning⁸ their old comrade Lula for taking a centrist approach and forming alliances with other, more ²⁾conservative parties. This has forced the president and his supporters in the Workers'Party to ³⁾contemplate strong measures, according to David Fleischer.

"It is possible that they may expel or suspend three or four of these radical⁶ leaders as an example for the others to tow the line," he said. "So Lula is having some problems, some difficulties, in bringing these radicals into line."

Mr. Fleischer says the government's main problem is finding resources to carry out programs for the poor. The Fome Zero, or Zero Hunger, program is an example. The idea behind this ambitious plan was to provide every Brazilian with three good meals a day. It was launched with great fanfare⁹ two months ago, but the government does not have sufficient money to fund it. President da Silva has looked to private donors¹⁰ and international aid programs for help in implementing¹¹ the program.

But Mr. Fleischer says that for whatever difficulties he has encountered, the president has managed things well in his first three months, and that how he does in the coming months may well depend on international factors, such as the war, which are beyond his control.

Greg Flakus VOA news, Rio de Janeiro.

1)    friction[5frikFEn]n.摩擦, 摩擦力

2)    conservative[kEn5sE:vEtiv]adj.保守的, 守旧的

3)    contemplate[5kCntempleit]v.凝视, 沉思,

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

3 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

4 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

5 strife   

n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争

参考例句：

• We do not intend to be drawn into the internal strife.我们不想卷入内乱之中。
• Money is a major cause of strife in many marriages.金钱是造成很多婚姻不和的一个主要原因。

6 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

7 radicals   

n.激进分子( radical的名词复数 )；根基；基本原理；[数学]根数

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals. 一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The worry is that the radicals will grow more intransigent. 现在人们担忧激进分子会变得更加不妥协。 来自辞典例句

8 condemning   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。
• I concur with the speaker in condemning what has been done. 我同意发言者对所做的事加以谴责。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

9 fanfare   

n.喇叭；号角之声；v.热闹地宣布

参考例句：

• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide.这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。
• A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King.嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。

10 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句