Bolsonaro speeds up payments to the poor as election approaches

The President of Brazil has announced plans to speed up payments to the poor in the country. Payments of R$600 will be sent to over 20 million families, including a gas voucher to over 5.5 million families. The move comes as the second-round of the election against left-wing Luis Lula approaches Brazil. Ronald Beto, Brazil's citizenship minister said during a press conference: "Why wouldn't we help the poor population because of the election period? We are coming out of a pandemic, a time of war, energy, and food insecurity." Critics speculate that the decision is only politically motivated. 64% of the people receiving the payments said they planned to vote for Lula, and only 29% plan to vote for Bolsonaro.