The fires in the Amazon are within the historical average. That’s why we should worry.
As Bruno Carazza has shown in a book-length study of Brazilian congressional politics, it has become increasingly difficult for Brazilian presidents to obtain support for their projects without catering to the interests of this group. The FPA was a key supporter of Bolsonaro’s presidential campaign, and it includes a disproportionate number of congressmen from Bolsonaro’s party, the PSL. Bolsonaro addressed the FPA in a meeting last Julywith these revealing words: “This government is yours.”
