“Polarization is good, if we know how to work”, says Lula about dispute with Bolsonaro

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) stated this Monday (11) that political polarization in Brazil is “good”, if it is well managed. Without mentioning former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) directly, the PT member pointed out that Brazil is polarized between two people. Lula also highlighted that the PL is an “eminently electoral legend”.

“I don’t worry about polarization, because Brazil was polarized between PSDB and PT for a long time. It was like that in 1989, it was like that in 1994, it was like that in 1998, it was like that in 2002, 2006. Now Brazil is polarized between two people, because in fact they are two people, they are not even two parties, because my party exists, their party does not exist. It is an eminently electoral party”, said the president in an interview with SBT.

“So, polarization is good if we know how to work with neutrals so that we can build a majority and govern Brazil. I think the world will continue like this. The world is very polarized on all continents,” he added.

Lula once again defends the regulation of social networks

During the interview, the president stated that social networks contribute to polarization and defended the regulation of platforms. Lula defended that a public debate be held before a decision on the topic is made.

“I think there needs to be regulation [das redes sociais]. This regulation has to be the result of a long debate with Brazilian society, with people who understand this subject… You cannot confuse freedom of expression with the use of freedom to do evil, such as false accusations, bullying”, he said.

“We have to have prudence and the ability to listen. It is not something that is decided by the Supreme Court or Congress, no. It is something that must be decided with debate in society, so that many people can give their opinion”, highlighted the president.

“We are falling short of what we promised”, says Lula about falling popularity

The president also commented on the drop in his popularity reported by three surveys released by the institutes Genial/Quaest, AtlasIntel and Ipec, in recent days. Lula stated that the government is “falling short” of what was promised during the campaign.

“I am absolutely sure that there is no reason for the Brazilian people to give me 100% popularity because we are still far short of what we promised. I know what I promised the people, I know the commitments I made to the people,” he said the head of the Executive.

“So far, we have prepared the land, plowed, fertilized and planted the seed. We covered the seed. This is the year in which we will begin to harvest what we sowed”, he added.