Brazil’s leftist government under Luis Inacio Lula da Silva is looking to increase public engagement after polls show record-high disapproval ratings.
Sources indicate that Lula aims to participate in more public events and interviews to, as they put it, “broaden the visibility of government actions” in hopes of improving his declining reputation in the country.
On Wednesday, the independent polling firm Quaest released its findings from a new survey titled “Thermometer,” which assessed public sentiment regarding Lula’s administration. The results were concerning, revealing that since Lula resumed office in January 2023, his disapproval rating has reached 57%.
Interestingly, Quaest noted that his disapproval is especially pronounced among Brazilian Catholics, with over half of this demographic—more than 53%—expressing dissatisfaction with the leftist president. Additionally, about 61% of respondents feel that Brazil is headed in the “wrong direction,” and 56% believe Lula’s current performance is worse than during his previous terms.
According to a report from the left-leaning publication Forja de Sao Paulo, Lula’s strategy for increased visibility has been guided by Sidônio Palmeira, who took over the head position at the Brazilian President’s Office of Social Communications (SECOM) this January. Palmeira has suggested that Lula should take on the role of the “content engine” for government communications.
The Brazilian administration pointed out that Lula previously attempted a similar approach back in January when rising food and fuel prices were affecting public perception of the government. At that time, Secom had shown interest in having Lula participate in more interviews, although this plan did not materialize.
Felipe Nunes, the director of Quaest, shared further insights on social media about the survey’s findings, suggesting that there are slight signs of economic improvement. However, he also remarked that Lula’s current term is “worse than initially anticipated.”
Nunes commented, “This is a clear deviation from expectations that has harmed the recovery of government approval ratings.”
He elaborated on several factors impacting Lula and his administration’s public image, which includes ongoing corruption investigations related to social security. Approximately 48% of those surveyed believe Lula is not acting intentionally, while 70% feel he isn’t fulfilling his campaign pledges.
A separate poll conducted by Quaest looked into potential scenarios for the 2026 presidential elections. According to the data released by Nunes, Lula is currently “technically tied” in a hypothetical matchup with São Paulo’s Tarcísio De Freitas, a steadfast supporter of former conservative president Jair Bolsonaro. Nunes observed that Lula’s lead has plummeted from 26 points to just 1.
Further investigations indicated that Lula is also “technically tied” with former First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro in another possible election scenario. Current polling suggests that former president Jair Bolsonaro is barred from running, and should elections take place now, respondents view Lula’s support as “technically numerically tied.” A significant 66% of those surveyed believe Lula should not seek re-election in 2026, whereas 65% feel Bolsonaro should back another candidate instead.
