President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's approval rating has fallen to a new low of 29%, according to a Datafolha poll released Saturday, as economic anxieties grip Brazil heading into the 2027 election cycle.
The survey, reported by G1, shows 40% of Brazilians now rate the government as bad or terrible, marking a significant deterioration from earlier in his third term. The findings represent a troubling reversal for the veteran leftist leader who returned to power in 2023 with broad expectations for economic renewal.
In Brazil, as across Latin America's giant, continental scale creates both opportunity and governance challenges. Economic frustrations vary dramatically across the country's diverse regions—from the industrial powerhouse of São Paulo to the commodity-dependent interior states—complicating any unified policy response.
The polling decline comes as inflation persists above central bank targets and growth remains sluggish, undermining Lula's campaign promises to restore prosperity after the turbulent Bolsonaro years. Urban voters particularly cite rising costs of living and stagnant wages as primary concerns.
Opposition figures quickly seized on the numbers. Conservative leaders argued the data reflects failed economic management and excessive government spending. "Brazilians are feeling the reality behind the rhetoric," said one opposition legislator, pointing to the president's ambitious social programs amid tight fiscal constraints.
The Workers' Party (PT) dismissed the poll as a snapshot that doesn't reflect longer-term achievements. Government officials emphasized recent infrastructure investments and social welfare expansions, arguing economic impacts take time to materialize across Brazil's continental dimensions.
Political analysts note the timing carries particular significance. With just over a year before the 2027 presidential campaign intensifies, these approval numbers could influence both PT strategy and opposition positioning. Several potential challengers are already testing messages around economic competence and fiscal responsibility.
The poll also reveals regional disparities consistent with Brazil's complex political geography. Support remains stronger in the Northeast, historically a PT stronghold, while urban centers in the Southeast show particularly sharp disapproval increases.
International observers watch closely, as Brazil's political trajectory carries implications for Latin American regional dynamics and BRICS leadership. Economic instability in the region's largest democracy could reshape trade partnerships and climate cooperation frameworks.
As one São Paulo economist noted, "The challenge isn't just policy—it's managing expectations across a country where coastal financial centers operate in a completely different economic reality than Amazon communities." That fundamental tension between Brazil's diverse economic ecosystems continues to test any administration's capacity to deliver broadly felt prosperity.
