President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said that his government overcame skepticism and ended the year 2025 with progress and record numbers. This is what is stated in the Message to the National Congress, delivered this Monday (2), during a formal session that marks the resumption of legislative work, after the recess.
“The prophecies were the worst possible: stagnant economy; uncontrolled inflation; soaring dollar; free falling stock market; and flight of foreign investments. Just the opposite happened: Brazil reached the end of 2025 stronger than ever”, says an excerpt from the message, which also brought positive economic numbers:
“The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew for the third consecutive year. The dollar had, in 2025, the biggest drop in the last nine years. The Stock Exchange grew 34% compared to 2024 and surpassed, for the first time, the 160 thousand points mark.”
The document, with more than 900 pages, was personally taken by the Chief Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa, as is customary. Several federal government ministers and authorities were present.
The presentation of the message was read by the first secretary of the Congress Bureau, federal deputy Carlos Veras (PT-PE).
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Investments, employment and income
Lula cited the more than US$77.7 billion in foreign investments, “the highest volume in the last seven years”, which consolidated the country as the second most attractive destination for foreign capital.
Unemployment at 5.2%, the lowest rate in the historical series, was also mentioned, as well as an increase in workers’ income and average prices.
“The average income of workers rose to R$3,574, the highest ever recorded. We closed 2025 with inflation of 4.26%, the lowest in seven years. We are on track to close the four years with the lowest accumulated inflation of all time.”
The growth of the economy, combined with the real increase in the minimum wage, a drop in inflation and a greater supply of jobs led to the departure of two million families from the Bolsa Família program.
“When we assumed the Presidency of the Republic again, in 2023, we found 33 million Brazilians in a situation of food insecurity, begging for bones at butchers’ doors. They said it was impossible, but in 2025 we removed Brazil from the Hunger Map for the second time”, he observed.
“Poverty and income inequality are the lowest ever recorded. In just two years, 17.4 million Brazilians were lifted out of poverty, in one of the biggest social rises in recent history. Class C, made up of families that meet basic needs and have some spending power, already represents 61% of the population. Brazil is on its way to becoming a middle class country,” continued Lula.
IR and social programs
The message also highlights the federal government’s priority measures that were approved last year, such as the 70% reduction in driving license (CNH) costs, the Gás do Povo program, the Income Tax exemption for those who earn up to R$5,000 per month and the gradual reduction for those who earn between R$5,000 and R$7,350 per month.
In education, the president pointed out that the Pé-de-Meia program surpassed the mark of 4 million students benefiting and reduced high school dropouts by 43%.
According to him, more than 68.4% of Brazilian public schools are connected to quality Internet.
Agreement and pricing
The message also highlights the outcome of the negotiation of the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union (EU), which took 25 years to complete. The new bloc holds around a quarter of the world’s GDP and has a population of 720 million consumers.
Pending approval by the National Congress, which should occur in the coming weeks, the treaty comes suffering a strike in Europe.
Lula also cited the challenge of tariff imposed by the government from the United States (USA) to Brazil.
“Our reaction was immediate. We created the Sovereign Brazil Plan to help companies and preserve jobs. We intensified the search for new commercial partnerships and reached the end of the year with 521 new markets open to our exports. With pride and a lot of dialogue, we reopened the doors of the North American market to Brazilian products”, says the message.
In the text, Lula also highlights that even with the tariffs, Brazilian exports last year reached a record mark of US$ 348.7 billion: “In three years, the accumulated total reached US$ 1.03 trillion.”
Public safety
Lula also said that the year 2025 went down in history for the “biggest offensive against organized crime of all time”.
The president cited the fight against criminal factions, through Operation Hidden Carbonwhich dismantled a billion-dollar scheme that used distributors, refineries, gas stations and fintechs for money laundering.
“The operation blocked fraudulent movements estimated at more than R$70 billion and proved that the leaders of organized crime are not in the communities, but in some of the most expensive addresses in Brazil and abroad. The Federal Police continues to deepen the investigations, and the criminals will pay for their crimes – no matter the size of their bank accounts or their fortune invested in the financial market.”
On this topic, the president reinforced the appeal to Congress for the approval of the Constitutional Amendment Proposal (PEC) for Public Security, and the Anti-Faction Bill (PL), which toughens the fight against organized crime by providing harsher penalties for its leaders and restricting the progression of sentences.
Priorities for 2026
In the message, Lula praised the partnership with the National Congress, considered fundamental for the approval of projects of interest to the government and the country. He highlighted what he considers essential to be approved this year.
“Our next challenge is the end of the 6×1 work schedule, without salary reduction. Time is one of the most precious assets for human beings. It is not fair for a person to work hard all week and only have one day to rest their body and mind and enjoy their family.”
The president also spoke of the “urgent need” to regulation of work by applications and criticized the precariousness of the workforce. The topic has been the subject of conversations between the federal government and the Chamber of Deputies, which seek consensus on a text.
Enlarged text at 6:02 pm
