Support for the authoritarian president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has plummeted significantly and is now below his disapproval level, according to a CNT/MDA survey.
This is the latest of several polls indicating a rise in negative opinions about the far-left leader, in a context where his government faces a severe economic crisis and increases the persecution of opponents.
Additionally, this study is published at a time when Brazil, the largest nation in Latin America, is heading toward the presidential elections next year, while Brazilians' concern grows over the constant rise in inflation.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, presidente de Brasil.
The far-left leader is considering the possibility of seeking reelection. However, the political landscape remains uncertain due to concerns about his health, as he is 79 years old, and the fact that his main political opponent, the right-wing former president Jair Bolsonaro, was disqualified from holding public office and is being persecuted and censored by the socialist government.
Support for Lula plummets
The CNT/MDA survey revealed that 44% of Brazilians have an unfavorable opinion of Lula's government, which represents a considerable increase compared to the 31% recorded in November. Meanwhile, those who positively value his administration dropped from 35% to 29%.
Regarding Lula's image as president, 55% expressed their disapproval, surpassing the 46% from November, while support fell from the previous 50% to the current 40%. The study was conducted in person with a sample of 2,002 people, with a margin of error of ±2.2 percentage points.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, presidente de Brasil.
"The government is under strong pressure," said the executive director of CNT, Bruno Batista, adding: "We know there's still a long way to go before the elections, but now the government will probably have to pay more attention to price increases, as it's what voters complain about the most".
Annual inflation in Brazil reached its highest point since late 2023 in mid-February, standing at 4.96%, along with a significant devaluation of the real. In response, Lula maintains that the overall level of inflation remains "under control", although he admitted an increase in food prices.
Other surveys also reflected a negative trend in Lula's approval as he approaches the midpoint of his third non-consecutive term. However, the far-left president downplays these results, arguing that it's still "early" for the public to form a definitive judgment on his administration.
