Haddad: Only 'Collective Brainwashing' Explains Lula-Bolsonaro Poll Tie

Fernando Haddad, a prominent figure in the Workers' Party (PT) and a pre-candidate for Governor of São Paulo, has strongly denounced recent electoral polls that suggest a technical tie between President Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro. Haddad dismissed these findings as the result of "collective brainwashing," arguing that such a comparison between the two political figures is "inadmissible" given their vastly different historical impacts on Brazil. He asserted that the growth in Bolsonaro's poll numbers is fueled by disinformation, a tactic he claims the right-wing employs to confuse the public.

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It is inadmissible what is being said here in the electoral polls. The contrast is so great, so great, that only collective brainwashing explains a possible comparison between these two presidents in the history of Brazil.

Haddad's remarks came during a May 1st event organized by Força Sindical, where he not only defended President Lula but also championed the cause of workers' rights. He declared an intensified campaign strategy, adopting a "7x0 scale" – meaning campaigning every day of the week – to secure Lula's re-election. This commitment extends to fighting for a 40-hour work week, a key proposal of the current government, and preventing a return to what he characterized as the "disaster" of the previous administration, particularly concerning the rollback of social rights and the privatization of public assets.

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Now we are going to fight for the 5 by 2 shift, for 40 hours [of work per week, as proposed by the government], and we are going to fight on the 7 by 0 shift to re-elect President Lula, because we are not going to rest until we see, in October, a horizon ahead that is not the disaster that was the previous government.

From a Brazilian perspective, Haddad's fiery rhetoric reflects the deep political polarization and the high stakes of the upcoming election. The narrative he is crafting positions the election as a clear choice between protecting social gains and workers' rights versus a return to policies that favor the elite and dismantle public services. His emphasis on "collective brainwashing" speaks to a broader concern within progressive circles about the spread of misinformation and its impact on voter perception. Furthermore, Haddad's comments on senatorial candidacies, stressing the need for consensus rather than imposition, highlight the internal dynamics and coalition-building efforts within the PT and its allies as they prepare for the electoral battle ahead.

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Whenever a campaign comes, they [from the right] try to omit, try to confuse public opinion, but in the final analysis, what is at stake is always the sale of public assets on one side and the cut of social rights on the other.