home country analysis briefs brazil brief pdf version pdb august 2004 background oil natural gas coal electricity environment profile links is the largest in south america and has experienced rapidly expanding markets recent years process of recovering from an energy crisis 2001 note information contained this report best available as subject to change october 2002 luiz inacio lula da silva was elected president replacing fernando henrique cardoso election marked a return left power 38 after military coup overthrew joao goulart brazilian labor party ptb during his campaign mr promised lead campaigns against hunger zero initiative for increased social spending areas health education public security date new government been successful on reforming pension system tax code real gross domestic product gdp growth 1 5 s economy slumped 2003 contracting 0 2 worst performance more than decade
