Lula's approval rises amid tariff dispute with Trump, poll shows
SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Approval for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva exceeded disapproval for the first time in nine months, a poll showed on Thursday, against a backdrop of a growing dispute with Washington.
Earlier in July, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would slap 50% tariffs on Brazilian exports to fight what he has called a "witch hunt" against Lula's right-wing rival, former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Those tariffs were formalized on Thursday, albeit with some key sector exemptions. The Trump administration has also imposed sanctions and visa restrictions on the judge overseeing Bolsonaro's trial on charges of plotting a coup.
Lula's government has pushed back, calling Trump an unwanted "emperor" and the sanctions "unacceptable."
The AtlasIntel/Bloomberg poll showed 50.2% approval of Lula's performance, up from 49.7% in the previous poll two weeks ago and marking the first time he has scored greater approval than disapproval since October.
The new poll adds to evidence that Trump's tactics may be backfiring in Brazil, rallying public support behind a defiant leftist government.
The proportion of respondents who consider Lula's government good or great has also improved, now at 46.6% from 43.4%, although that is still below the 48.2% who consider it bad or awful.
If a replay of the 2022 presidential election in Brazil was held this week, 47.8% of those surveyed would vote for Lula and 44.2% for Bolsonaro.
Despite being barred from holding public office until 2030, Bolsonaro insists he could run again, while Lula has hinted that he could run for reelection.
The poll surveyed 7,334 Brazilian adults online between July 25 and July 28. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus one percentage point.
(Reporting by Isabel Teles in Sao Paulo, editing by Manuela Andreoni and Rosalba O'Brien)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
28 minutes ago
- The Star
Design software maker Figma extends gains after blockbuster NYSE trading debut
(Reuters) -Design software maker Figma's shares rose another 10% in premarket trading on Friday, extending strong debut-day gains after a blowout U.S. initial public offering that has reignited the tech listing market. The San Francisco, California-based company's shares closed at $115.5 on Thursday, compared with its IPO price of $33. The 250% surge lifted Figma's market value to nearly $68 billion, far exceeding the $20-billion valuation in a now-scrapped buyout deal with Photoshop maker Adobe. Figma's $1.22-billion offering, the fourth-largest U.S. IPO of the year, is being seen as a potential catalyst for other startups eyeing a flotation after a three-year freeze in the tech listings market. The deal's strong reception renewed hopes of a broader reopening of the pipeline, as private companies and investors look to capitalize on improving market conditions and strong demand for growth names. Figma, which has highlighted its focus on AI, has also benefited from Wall Street's enthusiasm for the technology. The boom fueled a sharp rally in tech stocks over the past year and drove up valuations and investor demand for companies seen as central to the AI ecosystem. "In order for application software companies to remain relevant and provide value to end users, they will need to implement GenAI capabilities which represents a potential catalyst for adoption and increased usage of Figma," D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria said in a note. Founded in 2012 and led by CEO Dylan Field, Figma provides cloud-based collaborative design tools, with a roster of marquee clients including Google, Microsoft, Netflix and Uber. Though the blockbuster performance is good news for the IPO market, particularly for high-growth tech listings, the sharp surge suggests Figma may have priced its IPO too conservatively, potentially leaving money on the table. Bankers typically target a first-day rise of 10% to 20% to balance strong demand with optimal fundraising. (Reporting by Manya Saini in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)
The Sun
28 minutes ago
- The Sun
South Korea's ex-leader Yoon refuses questioning, lies on cell floor
SEOUL: South Korea's ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is in detention while on trial and facing various criminal probes, lay on the floor of his cell on Friday and refused to leave it for questioning, a spokesperson for a special prosecutor said. Yoon was removed from office in April by the Constitutional Court over his botched attempt last year to declare martial law and is now being investigated by a special prosecution team formed under new President Lee Jae Myung. Prosecutors investigating influence-peddling allegations connected to Yoon and his wife had tried to get him to comply with an arrest warrant and attend questioning voluntarily, a spokesperson for the special prosecution said. 'But the suspect stubbornly refused to do so, while lying on the ground, not dressed in a prison uniform,' Oh Jung-hee told a news briefing. She said investigators would try again to bring him in, even if they had to use force. Yoon was dressed only in his undershirt and underwear when prosecutors came to his cell, the Yonhap News Agency reported, citing the special prosecution. Yu Jeong-hwa, one of Yoon's lawyers, told Reuters that bringing up what he was wearing in a small space where the temperature was close to 40 degrees Celsius (104°F) was a public insult to his dignity and showed how the state was violating inmates' human rights. The former president was put back in a solitary cell at the Seoul Detention Center in July, as prosecutors investigating his short-lived declaration of martial law in December sought additional charges against him. Yoon is already on trial for insurrection, a charge which is punishable by death or life imprisonment. He also faces a string of other investigations led by special prosecutors including one into scandals surrounding his wife, former First Lady Kim Keon Hee, where the couple allegedly exerted inappropriate influence over elections. Yoon has denied any wrongdoing and his lawyers have accused prosecutors of conducting a politically-motivated witch hunt. The former president has repeatedly rejected requests by prosecutors to appear for questioning, citing health issues. His lawyers said on Thursday that he was unwell due to preexisting conditions, including a condition that meant there was a risk of him losing his eyesight. In a reference to Yoon's position as a former top prosecutor, Oh, the spokesperson for the special prosecution, said the case was being closely scrutinised by the public. 'The suspect has consistently highlighted the importance of laws, principles, fairness and common sense and through this case people are watching if the law applies equally to everyone,' Oh said. Separately, investigators requested that Yoon's wife Kim, who has also denied any wrongdoing, attend questioning on August 6. Kim's lawyers have said she would cooperate with the investigation. - Reuters
Focus Malaysia
28 minutes ago
- Focus Malaysia
Latest tariff announcement by US govt lacks clarity due to vague terminologies, says think tank
THE Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) has expressed concern over the latest decision by the United States (US) government to impose a 19% tariff on Malaysian exports. According to the think tank, US President Donald Trump's latest executive order solidifies his illiberal and punitive international trade agenda, imposing additional tariffs of between 10% and 41% on a range of countries, including Malaysia. 'While Malaysia's tariff rate of 19% is lower than the 25% initially outlined in President Trump's earlier announcement, the basis for this adjustment remains unclear,' it said in a statement on Friday (Aug 1). 'With implementation scheduled to take effect in just seven days, and no public disclosure of the concessions made during bilateral engagements, the announcement does little to alleviate the deepening uncertainty facing Malaysian exporters and international investors.' IDEAS said in addition to the headline tariffs, the announcement raised several concerns: The use of vague and undefined terms such as 'transshipment' which introduces legal and commercial uncertainty, particularly for firms operating within complex, integrated regional supply chains where goods may legitimately transit multiple countries, but now risk incurring a punitive 40% tariff; The six-month review mechanismwhich creates a state of continuous instability for traders and investors, risking long-term investment decisions; and Complex tariff treatment for goods in transit or storage, which adds to market disruption and casts doubts on the predictability of US trade enforcement. 'While the 19% is lower than the 25% initially threatened in Trump's June letter, we still have no clarity on what concessions Malaysian negotiators provided to secure this outcome,' IDEAS deputy research director Dr Stewart Nixon stated. 'The lack of transparency surrounding these unequal and needless negotiations is worrying. There are no winners from these tariffs. 'They create uncertainty, erode trust, and move global trade away from facilitative rules and governance, hurting Malaysian businesses and consumers alike.' According to Nixon, the absence of clear definitions, credible enforcement mechanisms, and any assessment of cross-sector impacts makes outcomes highly uncertain. He said trade remains disrupted, and the investment environment in a state of crippling static. 'It is important that this announcement brings an end to the Washington distraction and that ASEAN leaders refocus on the urgent task of reinforcing ASEAN centrality, diversifying and deepening ties with countries that support free and fair trade,' he added. It was reported earlier today that Malaysia will now face a 19% tariff on exports to the US, down from the previous 25%. This comes after Trump signed an executive order on July 31, 2025 modifying the reciprocal tariff rates for certain countries. Recall that Trump had initially announced a 24% tariff on goods imported from Malaysia in April this year, which was later increased to 25% in July, the latter originally set to take effect beginning August 1. The newly revised tariff rate will come into effect on 12.01am EDT on Aug 7, 2025 (12.01pm MYT on the same date). ‒ Aug 1, 2025 Main image: The Edge
