A survey conducted by the Instituto Datafolha shows that the Brazilian people are also opposed to a number of the government’s other plans. The majority don’t want President Jair Bolsonaro’s planned privatisation, or a decrease in the size of Indian reservations, or a relaxation in rules around workers’ rights or such a close relationship with the USA. Last year, Bolsonaro was elected president with 55.1 percent of the votes. So why is there such dissonance between the public and its newly elected government now?
A possible reason involves the fact that, in Brazil, politicians are often elected not for their policies but for their personalities. Most of them don’t even have a detailed election manifesto. During the polarising campaign for president in 2018 there was a focus on public security and fighting corruption - and Bolsonaro was able to present himself as a strong hand. But now, in order to rule the country, he must convince the public of his various projects. Above all, he must do this if he wants parliament to approve them.
*Source: Datafolha, 15.01.2019