Lula shifts campaign approach in bid to draw female vote
Source: Valor International
With an eye on attracting sectors considered decisive for the elections, President Lula has concluded that he needs to further calibrate his rhetoric and actions aimed at women in order to reverse disapproval of his administration among this electorate, which exceeds 40%.
The move comes as the Palácio do Planalto sees a kind of window of opportunity due to the absence, within the far-right camp, of a strong female leadership figure for the 2026 elections. Initially, one of the main bets in that field was former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro. However, her stepson Flávio Bolsonaro (Liberal Party, PL, São Paulo) emerged and was announced as a pre-candidate. Privately, the two disagree over the family’s electoral project for 2026, which, in the government’s view, weakens their presence on certain issues.
On women’s rights, the rift between them is even more evident. Michelle Bolsonaro heads PL Mulher, and on social media the women’s wing of the PL party has ignored Flávio’s pre-candidacy. Posts highlight Michelle and Jair Bolsonaro in particular, without reference to her stepson.
With an eye on attracting sectors considered decisive for the elections, President Lula has concluded that he needs to further calibrate his rhetoric and actions aimed at women in order to reverse disapproval of his administration among this electorate, which exceeds 40%.
The move comes as the Palácio do Planalto sees a kind of window of opportunity due to the absence, within the far-right camp, of a strong female leadership figure for the 2026 elections. Initially, one of the main bets in that field was former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro. However, her stepson Flávio Bolsonaro (Liberal Party, PL, São Paulo) emerged and was announced as a pre-candidate. Privately, the two disagree over the family’s electoral project for 2026, which, in the government’s view, weakens their presence on certain issues.
On women’s rights, the rift between them is even more evident. Michelle Bolsonaro heads PL Mulher, and on social media the women’s wing of the PL party has ignored Flávio’s pre-candidacy. Posts highlight Michelle and Jair Bolsonaro in particular, without reference to her stepson.