Lula misses the Davos Forum for the second time and sends ministers and president of the STF

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) will miss the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, for the second consecutive year, which begins this Tuesday (16). Lula’s absence at the event contrasts with the agenda he was preaching of positioning Brazil among the world’s great economies.

In addition to Lula, Finance Minister Fernando Haddad will also not participate in the Forum. In their place, a delegation formed by ministers Alexandre Silveira (Mines and Energy), Marina Silva (Environment) and Nísia Trindade (Health) will be sent.

Also participating in the delegation to Davos are the president of Petrobras, Jean Paul Prates; the special advisor to the presidency for international affairs, Celso Amorim; and the president of the Federal Supreme Court, Luís Roberto Barroso.

Minister Haddad, present at the event last year, chose to prioritize negotiations in Congress in relation to MP 1,202/2023, which deals with the re-encumbrance of payroll in 17 sectors of the economy and introduces other rules to increase tax collection. Haddad is expected to meet with the president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), this Monday (15) to discuss the proposal.

Several alternatives will be debated to increase government revenue in light of the possible return of the MP, including federal taxation on international purchases up to US$50, which could generate R$2.9 billion in 2024. Senators are also considering reducing the electoral fund as a way compensation, although the amount to be redirected has not yet been defined.

The theme of the 54th edition of the World Economic Forum is “Rebuilding Trust”, with the participation of more than 100 governments in debates on global security crises and new economic structures.

The president of the STF, Roberto Barroso, will also be present, discussing topics such as the preservation of the Amazon and the regulation of artificial intelligence.

Concern about disinformation and its impact on elections will be a crucial point, as indicated by the Global Risks Report, published by the Davos Forum, which highlights the need to debate how to avoid the use of artificial intelligence to spread false information.