Lula promises R$5,000 PIX MEI credit ahead of elections, structural reforms absent

President Lula announced a new benefit for individual micro-entrepreneurs (MEI) — free credit of R$5,000 via PIX starting next year if he wins the election — as part of a broader package. The move is seen as an electoral tactic to counter criticism of the government's lack of support for entrepreneurship, but it does not address structural issues. The announcement is part of a series of last-minute benefits, raising concerns about fiscal impact and electoral abuse.