BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's government has sharply increased spending in local infrastructure projects proposed by lawmakers, according to budget data reviewed by Reuters on Tuesday, as a graft scandal threatens to topple President Michel Temer. The increase in spending comes at a time when Temer is facing charges with taking bribes in connection with a graft scheme involving the world's largest meatpacker, JBS SA. SPENDING FLURRYBrazilian legislators can earmark the federal budget for local works, but the federal government must authorize that spending. Brazil's budget deficit before interest payments soared to 30.736 billion reais in May, the largest-ever for the month. The gap in the 12 months through May reached 157.7 billion reais, above the official target for a deficit of 143.1 billion reais for this year.

Source: The Star July 04, 2017 19:18 UTC