Lula seeks ‘picanha effect’ with fuel cuts – 05/16/2023 – Bruno Boghossian
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During the campaign, Lula bet on a tripod to pull key segments of the electorate through his pocket. The return of Bolsa Família sought to guarantee the loyalty of the poorest. The readjustment of the minimum wage was aimed at the worker on the next rung of the income ladder, while cheaper gasoline tried to seduce part of the middle class.
The then candidate based the menu on the “picanha effect”. The idea that these voters would have access to prime meat became propaganda for a promise to improve the economic environment, increase purchasing power and rescue the memory of the first PT governments.
Lula was in a hurry to make the measures flow and avoid early voter frustration. This Tuesday (16), Petrobras announced that it would deliver the third item in the package, with a change in its pricing policy and a cut in the amounts charged for gasoline, diesel and gas.
The state-owned company did not make a radical move or make it clear how it will set prices, but it delivered what the government wanted: a political opportunity at a time when the economy’s traction remains weak.
Gasoline pricing is an important chapter in the presidents’ handbook because it is often far-reaching and has an immediate effect. Under favorable conditions, it can contribute to fueling a sense of economic well-being by turning every gas station into a pro-government billboard.
Throughout the day, PT and allies tried to reap the dividends, echoing the campaign platform. They painted the ad as a demonstration that Lula keeps his promises, sought a contrast with the early years of Jair Bolsonaro and displayed the cut as proof of the advantages of state control over Petrobras.
The government’s short shot can achieve almost all of these objectives, but the duration of the political effects will depend on other factors – from the details of the new pricing formula to the inflationary pressure on other areas of the voter’s life.
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