PT targets evangelicals again after skidding in attempts – 12/14/2023 – Power

After failures in trying to get closer to evangelicals, the PT plans new moves with an eye on the next elections. The party is betting on the resumption of social programs to circumvent the strength of Bolsonarism in this segment and expects President Lula himself to make gestures to the churches.

The acronym has been struggling to gain membership in this religious group since the last elections and is discussing initiatives that the Lula government can adopt to gain ground in a stronghold more associated with former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

According to a Datafolha survey released this month, Lula maintains a 38% disapproval rate among evangelicals, compared to 28% among Catholics and 30% in the general population average.

Members of the PT leadership say that, to reach evangelicals, the political discourse has to be much broader than in a traditional party communication campaign and that intermediation also needs to occur outside the temples.

The direction outlined by the party is to try to convince the evangelical population that the party is responsible for policies that impact the lives of families, such as the real increase in the minimum wage and pensions, in addition to the expansion of Bolsa Família and Farmácia Popular and other measures aimed at for the lower classes.

Lula and other members of the government must intensify dialogue with this segment, signaling that churches are among the PT’s priorities. The president should look for religious leaders, but there is, for now, no intention for him to participate in services or events with a large audience.

In June, Lula declined an invitation to participate in the March for Jesus. The mention of him generated a collective boo at the event in São Paulo. On the occasion, the president was represented by the minister of the AGU (Attorney General of the Union), Jorge Messias.

The president has also avoided controversial topics, such as abortion and drug decriminalization. There is also the idea of ​​specific gestures, such as sponsorship and stands at events held by religious denominations.

PT national president, Gleisi Hoffmann, told Sheet that the rapprochement will not take place through debate about customs or religion, but through actions by the PT governments. “Bolsonaro uses faith to play politics and deceive these people. We are going to show that we are improving their lives.”

The party’s assessment is that, despite the particularities within the evangelical segment, the majority of this group falls into the segment of the population that is served by social policies promoted by the PT, including actions aimed at the female public.

“They are women, they are poor people who are on Bolsa Família and who want to provide opportunities for their children”, added Gleisi.

The idea is for widespread action to take place and for PT municipal leaders to strengthen this campaign. An example is mobilizing activists to beat drums for the party when there are openings of daycare centers, schools and construction projects in municipalities. “The people have to know that it is the PT that is doing this”, says Gleisi.

The general secretary of the PT, Henrique Fontana, stated that the plan to regain the support of this segment goes through a laborious process.

“The narrative that the extreme right created to intoxicate evangelicals’ relations with the PT can and must be overturned. The PT respects all beliefs. But over time the population will see that it was all fake news. Tell me which temple Lula closed after he was elected?” said Fontana.

He referred to false messages sent out in last year’s campaign. The text said that Lula would have declared that he would close churches if elected. “Being in government, it is easier to demystify the lies,” he added.

Party members assess that a traditional party campaign, through the media, and aimed at segments more linked to Bolsonarism, such as evangelicals and ruralists, will not be enough to pierce the bubble created by Bolsonarism and the discourse linked to customs.

Therefore, Fontana intends to activate PT representatives in the municipalities to strengthen the party at the grassroots. The party’s National General Secretariat is responsible, among other things, for coordinating all national party activity.

“It’s a dispute that requires multiple possibilities. We need to root the party more in these territories. Often it’s not enough for our great leader to record a video. We need to break a big barrier,” he declared.

“There’s no point in being content with talking a lot with those who are already with us”, he summarized.

This was Lula’s message in his speech at the PT Electoral Conference last week. “Are we saying what the people want to hear from us? Are we competent to convince the people of our truths?”, asked the president.

The difficulties in improving the government’s evaluation among the evangelical electorate is one of the party’s concerns.

The increased importance of this segment in politics has the potential to influence municipal disputes in 2024, which are a test for the 2026 general elections. The PT assesses that it needs to expand city halls and councilors to be able to elect a larger bench in the Chamber next legislature.

In relation to agribusiness, which has also aligned itself with Bolsonarism, the PT believes in improving the economy, with results in the opening of international markets and the Safra Plan, which reached a record that year. There is also no plan, for now, for Lula to attend major fairs and events in the sector.