Dealing with polarized political positions is one of Brazil’s biggest challenges – survey

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – According to the Ipsos “Cultural Wars” survey, political polarization in Brazil even surpasses differences between social classes and religions regarding “social tensions.” Eight out of ten Brazilians say they believe there are major tensions between people who defend different party banners.

This percentage exceeds the global average of 28 countries, making political polarization the main source of tension perceived by Brazilians themselves. In other words, there is more arguing about party politics than about any other issue. There are numerous examples of these tensions and political violence, ranging from family disputes to extreme cases, such as the death threats received by leftist politicians elected in 2020.

According to those who try to make politics in Brazil, talking to dissenters is one of the biggest challenges in the Brazil of 2021, even without holding elected office. “Dialogue is obviously necessary, but it is increasingly difficult to promote public debate amid so many narratives and bigotry,” said Amanda Vettorazzo, a 32-year-old businesswoman who belongs to the Patriota party.

“We’ve reached a point where truth and logic no longer matter for a large part of the active voices in Brazilian politics, weakening our democracy.”

For Rafael Parente, a 44-year-old PSB-affiliated teacher, hate and lies are the main causes of the problem. “It has become more difficult to talk. Much of the polarization is based on lies and hatred. Still, at the same time, the aggravation has created a counterforce to radicalism that reminds us that Brazilian diversity is one of our strengths and that we grow in diversity and with the truth.”

Helio Gastaldi, director of public affairs at Ipsos in Brazil, believes this is a war of narratives. “To the extent that opposing political poles appropriate issues that supposedly bring new sympathizers to their ranks, opinions on these issues also become more radical and even sectarian, as each group unconditionally defends certain positions and strongly condemns others, without the possibility of a more contemporary view.”

In Brazil, some political groups do not manage to walk together even when they have the same demands. At a demonstration against Jair Bolsonaro in early July, a PSDB flag (Brazilian Social Democracy Party = center right)  was set on fire by militant PCO supporters (Workers’ Cause Party= far left) on Avenida Paulista. This confusion was one of the reasons that non-leftist groups planned their own action against the president in September, with each in their own corner – and both sides seem to welcome the idea.

Speeches by Bolsonaro and former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who are leading the debate in the run-up to the 2022 presidential election, have helped to reinforce the climate of political “flu.”

The president has already said that his opponent, will only win the election if it is a “fraud.”  Petista Lula said that always “polarized” against candidates of the PSDB, but never in “low level”, justifying that the dispute with Bolsonaro is “democracy” against “fascism”.

“An essential element for the decline of polarization and voter sentiments would be a political pact in which the candidates themselves take a position of dialogue and not confrontation,” said political scientist Creomar de Souza of the consulting firm Dharma. “(But) I don’t think that will happen. The candidates are feeding the logic of confrontation because it affects the rationality of the process. The forecast is a turbulent election with violence in 2022.”

Third Way. The attempt to consolidate a “third way” for 2022 leads to an accumulation of names: From governors like PSDB João Doria (SP) and Eduardo Leite (RS) and Senator Tasso Jereissati (CE); former ministers Ciro Gomes (PDT) and Luiz Henrique Mandetta (DEM); parliamentarians like Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco (DEM-MG) and his colleague Simone Tebet (MDB-MS); to “outsiders” like TV show host José Luiz Datena (PSL).

The tendency, according to Ipsos, is for the “warlike” atmosphere of the election campaign to be transmitted to the voter. “The strategy of the political groups that are currently fighting each other is precisely to treat political opponents as mortal enemies and seek their annihilation, as happens in a war,” Gastaldi said.

“The elections in October 2022 are likely to raise the temperature even more and increase the polarization and belligerence of the participants. I hope there is a way out, but whatever it is, there is still a long way to go,” he said.