THE GEOGRAPHY (Foreign Office UK)
Area: 8,547,403 sq km2
Population: 176.3 million
Capital City: Brasilia
Language: Portuguese
Religion: Roman Catholic
Currency: Real
Major political parties: Following the
elections in 2002, the Worker's Party
(PT) became the largest party in
Congress. It has formed a coalition
with nine other smaller parties giving it
control of 254 seats out of 513 in the
Chamber of Deputies, and 31 seats out
of 81 in the Senate. Negotiations are
continuing with the Party of the
Brazilian Democratic Movement
(PMDB) about joining the coalition. This
would give the government an extra 115
seats in the Chamber and 20 in the
Senate, an overall majority in both. The
main opposition parties are the Social
Democratic Party (PSDB), the Liberal
Front Party (PFL).
Government: Federal Republic
consisting of 26 States and one Federal
District. The main organs of the State
are the Presidency (Head of State),
the Executive (Cabinet), the
Legislature (Congress), and the
Judiciary. Elections are fixed term
every four years both for the
President and the Congress.
Legislature: The 1988 Constitution
provides for an elective bi-cameral
Congress consisting of a Federal
Senate (81 seats) and a Chamber of
Deputies (513 seats).
GEOGRAPHY
Brazil has five main topographical
regions – the Amazon Basin (northern
and western Brazil), the River Plate
Basin (southern Brazil), the Guyanan
Highlands (north of the Amazon
region), the Brazilian Highlands (south
of the Amazon region), the coastal
strip. The Amazon region accounts for
more than a third of the country.
Brazil contains a number of climatic
zones from the Amazon region where
the temperature averages 27oC, to the
dry north east where temperatures
can exceed 40oC, to the south near
Uruguay where average temperatures
are 17-19oC.
THE HISTORY (Foreign Office UK)
1823 The Portuguese explorer Pedro
Alvares Cabral lands in Brazil.
1823 Creation of the Viceroyalty of
Brazil by Portugal.
1823 Rio de Janeiro proclaimed
Brazil's sole Capital.
1823 Napoleon invades Portugal. King
Joao VI takes refuge in Brazil.
1823 King Joao VI returns to Portugal
leaving his son Pedro as Regent of
Brazil.
1823 Pedro proclaims the independence
of Brazil and is proclaimed Emperor.
1823 Brazil is proclaimed a Republic.
1823 After almost a hundred years of
alternating military and civilian rule,
democracy is restored. Jose Sarney
becomes President.
1823 New constitution proclaimed.
1994 Fernando Henrique Cardoso
elected President.
2002 Luiz Inacio 'Lula' da Silva
elected President.
THE ECONOMY (Foreign Office UK)
The Brazilian economy had a bumpy
ride in 2002. Unfavourable external
factors made international investors
averse to emerging markets. Although
President Lula ran on a moderate
social democrat manifesto, the
markets worried about his commitment
to orthodox economic policy and to
honouring the country's debt
repayments. Brazilian assets and the
national currency came under some
stress, despite negotiation of an IMF
standby arrangement worth $30 billion
in August 2002.
President Lula's administration moved
quickly to win market confidence. The
main planks of the previous
administration's economic policy have
been retained and proven
administrators were appointed to key
economic posts. President Lula has also
committed himself to a series of
reforms that are widely seen as
essential to enable Brazil to reduce its
vulnerability to external shocks and
achieve high rates of sustainable
growth. These include changes to the
public sector pension system, reforms
of tax, employment, and bankruptcy
law, and propose autonomy for the
Central Bank.
Brazilian assets and the national
currency have strengthened against
this background. Although inflation
remains a short term challenge, the
wider economic fundamentals look
sound. With both monetary and fiscal
policy still tight, growth in 2003 is likely
to be modest, bur should still end the
year at around 2%.
Basic Economic Facts
GDP: US$ 450 bn (2002) Brazil was
the world's 12th largest economy in
2002
GDP per head: US$ 2,574 (2002)
Annual Growth: 1.5% (2002), 1.5%
(2001), 4.5% (2000)
Inflation: 7.7% (2001)
Major Industries: Agriculture (soya
meat, fruit, vegetables), iron ore and
minerals, iron and stell, oil and
derivatives, food processing, wood
products, footwear and textiles,
automotive, aerospace, petrochemicals,
financial services, electronics
Major trading partners: United States,
Argentina, Germany, Japan, Italy,
France, China United Kingdom.
BRAZIL'S RELATIONS WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
Brazil is an active player on the world
stage. It is a contributor to the
multinational force in East Timor, and
played a key role in brokering a border
agreement between Peru and Ecuador
in October 1998. Brazil reacted swiftly
to condemn the terrorist attacks on
the World Trade Center and has acted
within the Organisation of American
States in support of the US. Brazil
successfully hosted the first ever
European Union/Latin
American/Caribbean Summit in Rio de
Janeiro in June 1999, and hosted the
first South American Summit in 2000.
Brazil also plays a leading role in the
CPLP, the community of
Portuguese-speaking nations.
Flags Of The World:República Federativa do Brasil,
Federative Republic of Brazil
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