Economy
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Monday he is confident that the Brazilian Senate will approve Venezuela's entry into the Common Market of the South (Mercosur).

During an interview with daily newspaper Folha de Boa Vista, Lula said that with Venezuela in Mercosur, the states of northern Brazil will be benefitted from increasing trade.

"There is not opposition of the Senate to Venezuela's entry into Mercosur," Lula said in the interview, AP quoted.

"The proposal was already analyzed and approved by the Chamber of Deputies. I am positive that the Senate will pass it also," Lula said.

However, opposition lawmakers are at odds with Venezuela joining the customs association, which also includes Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, as they are afraid that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez could have a negative influence on the bloc.

The Parliaments of Argentina and Uruguay already approved Venezuela's membership, but it is still pending for approval at the Paraguayan and Brazilian Congresses.