A president’s popularity is a vital barometer of politics. In Brazil, the figure of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has always generated intense debate. At the end of the first year of his third term, the question that arises is: how do Brazilians view Lula now? Recent polls point to a significant change in public perception.
This shift in perception is especially notable when compared to Lula’s previous popularity. He has historically been a polarizing figure, but he has also been widely popular across many segments of society. The current wave of negative opinions can be attributed to a variety of factors, including controversial political decisions and the country’s economic situation.
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Lula's popularity drops
The data is clear: Lula's popularity is falling. A survey by Genius/Quaest revealed that the positive evaluation of the president has decreased. Thus, voters gave, on average, a score of 5.7 to his first year in office. Another study, by PoderData, showed a loss of support among groups crucial to his electoral victory in 2022, including women and low-income people. These numbers indicate a change in public opinion, which was previously more favorable to the president.
Factors influencing public opinion
Several factors contributed to this change in popular perception. Criticism of Lula's high volume of international travel and his stance on international issues, such as the conflict between Israel and Hamas, influenced public opinion. In addition, almost half of voters expressed distrust of the president, according to Datafolha. Thus, the Institute of Applied Economic Research (Ipea) also indicated that a significant portion of the population considers the current government to be worse than they expected.
This scenario suggests a challenge for Lula and his government: to regain the trust and support of the Brazilian people. With his popularity trending downwards, the president faces the task of reversing this negative perception and responding to the population's expectations.
