Poll: Majority of Brazilian Population Is Unaware of Congressional Election

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Less than two weeks before the early February elections for the presidency of the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, 57% of Brazilians say they are unaware of the change of command in Congress. Only 30% know that new leaders will be chosen for both Houses, according to a survey by EXAME/IDEIA.

The survey was conducted with 1,200 people between January 11th and 14th. The error margin is three percentage points plus or minus.

The lack of awareness in relation to the change of leadership in Congress is higher among the segment of the population with less schooling and income: 78% of respondents who did not complete elementary school and 63% of those earning up to a minimum wage.

Those who are aware of the Chamber and Senate elections are at the other tip of the socioeconomic pyramid. Around 42% earn more than five minimum wages and 33% have completed higher education.

Among those who follow the election process in the Chamber, 14% know that deputy Arthur Lyra (PP-AL) is in the race and 11% know pf deputy Baleia Rossi (MDB-SP).

The survey points out that 78% of Brazilians are unaware of the candidates for election in the Chamber and Senate (81%). “Attention is drawn to the fact that an event of importance to the country’s future is so unfamiliar to the public,” says Mauricio Moura, founder of IDEIA.

The survey also asked how Brazilians rate Congress. Almost half of respondents (49%) said that they consider the work of legislators as average. For 33%, the performance of Congress is bad or terrible. Only 13% say it is excellent or good. Among the dissatisfied, 40% completed elementary school, 36% live in the Southeast, and 39% earn up to one minimum wage.

Brazilians with greater financial resources and schooling levels are the ones who most rate Congress performance as average: 60% have a university degree and 72% earn more than five minimum wages.

Government approval

While the work of Congress is perceived as average by a large part of the population, approval of President Jair Bolsonaro’s government has climbed again this month. Currently, 37% of Brazilians say they are pleased with the federal administration, compared to 35% last month.

The President’s approval rate record was set in February 2019, before the pandemic, when he was endorsed by 45% of Brazilians.

The survey also shows that the country remains divided. Some 37% disapprove of the government, the same proportion as those who claim to be pleased. Another 24% do not have an opinion on the matter and 2% were unable to answer.

“However, we must not forget that the impact of the end of emergency aid has not yet been fully grasped by public opinion,” says Moura, founder of IDEIA. The EXAME/IDEIA survey also showed that 70% of Brazilians consider that the emergency aid should be extended.