When Lula was reelected last month, one of the potential difficulties he faced was a congress in which his party did not have a majority. Coalition building would be of paramount importance for him to accomplish anything in his second term.
Now he's part of the way there:
Brazil's largest political party voted on Thursday to join the coalition government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in his second term, giving the former labor leader vital support for his legislative agenda.
The centrist Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), which only erratically backed Lula in his first term, said it agreed with a seven-point agenda proposed by Lula and would officially form part of the government after January 2.
"We are a large and eclectic party but we decided to unite and participate in the decision-making of the executive," Renan Calheiros, PMDB leader and Senate president, told Reuters after the vote.
Six PMDB senators are not going along with the coalition, however, it seems likely some other parties may join in in order to have some influence. Now if Lula can keep his own party's nose clean, he may be able to accomplish some of his agenda in his second term.
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