Explaining Brazil #310: Has Lula’s star dimmed?

Author

Gustavo Ribeiro
October 02, 2024 • Reading Time: 3 minutes

In Lula’s first two terms as Brazilian president, during the 2000s, he managed to charm the world with his charisma. Shortly before leaving office, Barack Obama hailed Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva “the most popular politician on Earth.”

He also stood out for his pragmatic, independent diplomacy, anchored in the idea of an increasingly multipolar world, in which Brazil should not automatically align itself with Western superpowers.

Whether intentional or not, Lula managed to craft a wholly positive international image for himself during his first two terms.

Now, after being elected to a third non-consecutive term as president, Lula’s declared ambition to restore Brazil’s international reputation and reestablish the country as a significant global player. But a new Pew Research Center survey across six countries — Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and the U.S. — suggests that Lula’s clout may have run thin.

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This episode used music from Uppbeat and Envato. License codes: Fairytales by Daniel Zambo, Aspire by Pryces (B6TUQLVYOWVKY02S), and Private Investigation by AMZA (V9ZG3LD).

In this episode:

  • Christine Huang is a research associate at Pew Research, focusing on global attitudes.

Background reading:

  • Despite the Lula government’s desire for global leadership, a Pew survey shows a decline in Brazil’s international standing and the president’s favorability

  • The Lula government’s approval rating dropped to 35 percent in mid-September, according to the latest poll results from Ipec.

  • 2024 is a big year for Brazil on the global stage, as the country will host more than 120 meetings as part of its G20 presidency. Check out the agenda here.

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