The passage of a pension reform bill in Brazil has come to grinding halt, which would become a major issue in the election campaign later in 2018, Reuters reported, citing Brazil's political affairs minister, Carlos Marun.

The comment follows Senate head Eunicio Oliveira saying that the government's military intervention on Feb. 16 in Rio de Janeiro to curb violence, by the rules of the country’s constitution, blocks any constitutional changes during the government's duration.

Pension reform is the key foundation of President Michel Temer's efforts to rein in a budget deficit, which has widened thanks to generous pension benefits and early retirement, according to Reuters.

Marun said the overhaul of the country's costly social security system would become a key campaign issue should Congress fail to act on it.

Meanwhile, the minister acknowledged the bill never secured enough support and the government was likely to face defeat.