Undeserving of a New Term, Lula Favored with Old Discourse and Rival's Errors

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrives at the party convention facing a complex scenario: most Brazilians feel he doesn't merit another term, yet he remains the frontrunner. Lula, much like his favored football team Corinthians, has a reputation for rallying from behind. He has skillfully navigated recent months by capitalizing on the opposition's errors. While his main rival, Flávio Bolsonaro, has been embroiled in various scandals this year, from unexplained financial dealings to associations with Donald Trump during U.S. tariff hikes and a dispute with his stepmother, Lula has followed his campaign strategist's advice to regain ground in the polls. Lula has intensified his rhetoric, labeling Flávio Bolsonaro a traitor, while simultaneously increasing government spending on populist initiatives. This has contributed to the public debt cost reaching its highest average in nearly a decade, at 12.68% annually as of June. The perception of fiscal irresponsibility has led to sustained high interest rates and persistent inflation, directly impacting voters' finances. The promise of "picanha on the Brazilian table" from the 2022 election seems more distant as meat prices soar. Facing pressure over unfulfilled promises, Lula's government is reviving older proposals, such as creating a Ministry of Public Security. Lacking a signature policy with significant impact, the administration has reversed unpopular decisions, like the tax on international purchases, and relaunched debt renegotiation programs like Desenrola, which critics argue merely postpones families' indebtedness. Additionally, Lula has unexpectedly supported a constitutional amendment to end the 6x1 work schedule, a proposal that had languished in Congress for years without government backing. Corruption allegations have also resurfaced, with the "Caso Master" investigation reaching Senator Jaques Wagner, a close ally of Lula, and an INSS investigation implicating Lula's eldest son, Fábio Luís Lula da Silva.