Rising living costs fuel voter discontent, jeopardizing Lula's bid for fourth term

In Brazil, everyday consumers are feeling the strain of years of elevated food prices and record household debt, prompting voters such as butcher Kleyton Zacarioto to abandon support for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Lula emphasizes macro-economic successes—record low unemployment, reduced inequality and recent inflation easing—yet a Quaest poll indicates nearly half of respondents believe the economy has worsened.

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, campaigning on lower food costs and tax cuts, remains neck-and-neck with Lula in the polls. The president’s campaign has responded with a welfare increase and a ban on online betting, while also filing a complaint against Bolsonaro’s campaign for alleged price misinformation. Analysts note the gap between positive national indicators and the lived experience of many households, a dynamic that could decide the upcoming election.