A survey released on Wednesday (20) by the Quaest Research Institute shows that 54% of the Brazilian population approve of the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Workers’ Party), while 43% disapprove of his government. The figures corroborate a rate stability trend and reflect the lasting polarization the country has been facing in recent years.
Quaest made the same survey for six months (every two months). The president's approval rate fluctuated between 51% and 60% throughout 2023. The disapproval rate, which was 28% in the first survey, in February, was between 35% and 43% in subsequent surveys. It is worth noting that the margin of error is 2.2 percentage points, plus or minus.
Detailed data from the survey shows that the assessment of the president's work varies depending on the interviewee’s vote in last year's presidential election. While 90% of Lula's supporters say they approve of the president's government, 83% of those who voted for – the now ineligible – Jair Bolsonaro (Liberal Party) say they disapprove of the former president.
The polarization is obvious when looking at other data collected in the survey. For instance, 55% of Lula’s supporters said they saw improvements in the country’s economy. For 64% of Bolsonaro’s supporters in the last election, Brazil's economy worsened. Most Lula voters also mentioned a fall in food prices, while most Bolsonaro voters said food prices rose.
Looking at expectations, it was also clear the separation between “lulistas” (Lula’s supporters) and “bolsonaristas” (Bolsonaro’s supporters). Among supporters of the current president, 78% believe the economy will soon improve. On the other hand, 54% of those who voted for Bolsonaro believe it will get worse.
“Governing under calcification requires a strategy that presents hope to those who supported him [Lula] in the election, and creates bridges with pragmatic sectors of the opposition. A strong economy is a sine qua non condition for this, which will require much more from [Fernando] Haddad [Brazil’s minister of the economy] and the economic team," said political scientist Felipe Nunes, director of Quaest.
The research institute interviewed 2,012 people in 120 cities and towns around the country. The interviews were made between December 14 and 18 (Thursday to Monday).
Edited by: Rebeca Cavalcante
