Lula should campaign as if losing, advises ex-minister Dirceu

José Dirceu, a former Minister of the Civil House, is actively campaigning for a seat in the Chamber of Deputies from São Paulo, despite undergoing treatment for duodenal lymphoma. The 80-year-old politician, who has been recovering at home for 100 days, is counting down the days until he receives medical clearance to campaign on the streets in mid-September.

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Polls suggest a first-round victory is possible, but Lula must campaign as if he were losing. I always hold this thesis. Campaigns depend heavily on conversations within families, neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and churches. It's not just about social media and advertising.

In a recent phone conversation, Dirceu expressed enthusiasm for the electoral campaign and urged President Lula to run his campaign "as if he were losing." He believes this approach is crucial for fully engaging the electorate until the very end of the race. "Polls suggest a first-round victory is possible, but Lula must campaign as if he were losing. I always hold this thesis. Campaigns depend heavily on conversations within families, neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and churches. It's not just about social media and advertising," Dirceu stated.

Dirceu, who was imprisoned during the military dictatorship and later faced charges in the "mensalão" and "Lava Jato" scandals, was last elected in 2002. He served as Lula's Minister of the Civil House for two years before the "mensalão" crisis. His optimism for Lula's potential fourth term is based on two key factors: the broad coalition supporting Lula, making him the sole progressive candidate for the presidency, and the internal unity within the Workers' Party (PT), which Dirceu once led.

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We have the first coalition where all center-left parties are united behind the presidency. We also have practically all of the MDB in the North and Northeast, a very important part of the PSD, support from states like the Republicans and União Brasil, and former ministers from these parties.

"We have the first coalition where all center-left parties are united behind the presidency. We also have practically all of the MDB in the North and Northeast, a very important part of the PSD, support from states like the Republicans and União Brasil, and former ministers from these parties," Dirceu explained. He concluded, "We have formed an alliance to win the election. We are not overconfident."

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We have formed an alliance to win the election. We are not overconfident.