Weekly Report - 30 March 2004

President Lula da Silva said last week that `for many years [Brazil] hadn't experienced a moment of optimism such as this.' The claim did not jibe with the fact that Lula's popularity is falling and his old allies are on the warpath. The movement of landless peasants (MST) has launched a new wave of land invasions, the umbrella labour confederation CUT is threatening an all-out strike, and Lula's Vice-President has renewed his attack on the government's economic policies.