Seventy percent of Brazilians see the relationship between the Lula government and the National Congress more as confrontational than collaborative, according to a Datafolha poll released this Sunday. Another 20% consider there is more cooperation than conflict, while 2% see neither confrontation nor collaboration and 8% don't know. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"A relação entre o governo Lula (PT) e o Congresso Nacional é vista por 70% da população como de mais confronto do que colaboração"
"Outros 20% veem mais cooperação do que embate, enquanto 2% afirmam não ver nem um, nem outro, e 8%, que não sabem"
The poll surveyed 2,004 people in 139 municipalities on May 12 and 13, 2026, with a margin of error of 2 percentage points. The survey was registered with the TSE under number BR-00290/2026, according to Folha de S.Paulo. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"O levantamento ouviu 2.004 pessoas em 139 municípios de todo o país, na terça-feira (12) e quarta-feira (13), e foi registrado no TSE (Tribunal Superior Eleitoral) com o número BR-00290/2026"
The perception of confrontation finds support in official Senate data: Lula's third term shows the lowest approval rate for provisional measures in recent Brazilian history, at 15.87% in the first two years, compared to 47.44% under Bolsonaro, 58% under Temer, and over 80% in previous terms by Lula and Dilma. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Considerando os dois primeiros anos do atual mandato, a aprovação sobe para 15,87%, mas permanece abaixo dos índices registrados no mesmo período por Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2020), com 47,44%; Michel Temer (20162018), com 58%"
Among those who perceive confrontation, 89% consider this negative for Brazil, while 10% see it as positive. In the minority group that identifies collaboration, 58% evaluate the relationship as positive and 38% as negative for the country. Most interviews occurred before the release of conversations between Flávio Bolsonaro and Daniel Vorcaro about film financing. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Entre quem acha que há mais confronto do que colaboração entre o governo e o Congresso, 89% dizem que isso é negativo para o Brasil, e 10% consideram positivo"
"A maioria das entrevistas foi feita antes da revelação de conversas em que o senador Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) pede dinheiro a Daniel Vorcaro"
Datafolha poll registered with TSE using standard methodology: 2,004 respondents, 139 municipalities, 2 p.p. margin of error
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (2)
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How does the 15.87% MP approval rate specifically compare with other legislative instruments of the current government?
Why it's still unknown: Available data focuses only on provisional measures, not covering ordinary bills, decrees or other government propositions
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What would be the strongest contrary reading of the 70% who see confrontation - sample bias, timing, or alternative interpretation of the data?
Why it's still unknown: None of the outlets presented critical methodological analysis or sources defending alternative interpretation of the poll results
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How do other polling institutes evaluate the Executive-Legislative relationship in the same period?
Why it's still unknown: Only Datafolha data was reported, without comparison to polls from other institutes for cross-validation