Haddad: Lula Won't Use Bolsonaro-Style Election Sweeteners

Finance Minister Fernando Haddad has firmly stated that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's administration will steer clear of the populist tactics employed by former President Jair Bolsonaro to win elections. Haddad explicitly rejected the notion that Lula would resort to "cheap populism" or "goodie packages" – measures involving increased spending or social benefits with electoral aims – to secure re-election. This assertion comes amidst opposition criticisms that the current government is preparing such measures ahead of the upcoming polls.

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Se não vier com populismo barato... Quantas vezes eu ouvi: ‘Ah, o presidente Lula vai fazer a mesma coisa que o Bolsonaro fez no último ano para ganhar a eleição’. Eu falei: ‘Cara, o Lula não vai fazer isso’. Não fez e não vai fazer, porque não acredita nisso

Haddad emphasized that the government's focus remains on implementing "structural" public policies, not on short-term electoral strategies. He also underscored the importance of fiscal balance, advocating for a "fair" and "reasonable" adjustment of public accounts. In a nuanced critique, Haddad addressed what he termed the "stereotyped left," sectors that he believes reject any form of spending limits. He argued that fiscal rules are not only necessary but crucial for restoring the fiscal surplus, a sentiment that may face internal resistance within the party.

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Agora, tem que ser justo o ajuste. Tem que ser uma coisa razoável. Então, convencer alguém da esquerda, vamos dizer assim, uma esquerda estereotipada, porque não dá para condenar a esquerda, mas tem uma esquerda estereotipada que fala: ‘Não, não pode ter limite de gastos’. Pô, tem que ter. Você quer recompor o superávit, você tem que ter

Reflecting on the previous administration, Haddad pointed to a significant "bleeding" of public accounts during the final months of Bolsonaro's term, driven by the government's imminent defeat. He suggested that the press, which he claims extensively reported on this at the time, has since overlooked these events. Haddad's remarks position the Lula administration as committed to fiscal responsibility, contrasting its approach with what he characterizes as the previous government's unsustainable spending practices. This stance sets the stage for a debate on economic policy and fiscal management leading up to the 2026 elections.

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Mas o que aconteceu em 2022 foi um pouco grave, porque, diante de um cenário de derrota iminente do governo de então, houve uma sangria. Isso foi sobejamente noticiado pela imprensa, que depois esqueceu o que noticiou