Most Brazilians believe that the relationship between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and the National Congress is marked more by confrontation than by collaboration. This is what a Datafolha survey released this Sunday, 17th, shows, according to which 70% of those interviewed see conflicts between the Palácio do Planalto and the Legislature.
Another 20% say they perceive a more collaborative relationship between the Powers. 2% said they identified neither confrontation nor cooperation, while 8% were unable to respond.
Among the group that believes there is more confrontation than collaboration, 89% say this is negative for Brazil and 10% consider it positive. Among those who see the relationship as collaborative, 58% say that the partnership between government and Congress is positive, and 38% see it as negative for the country.
The survey was carried out after a sequence of political defeats by the government in Congress during President Lula’s third term. Among the most recent episodes is the historic rejection, by the Senate, of Jorge Messias’ nomination to the Federal Supreme Court (STF), in April.
In the same month, deputies and senators overturned Lula’s full veto on the dosimetry project. Before that, in 2025, the government faced resistance from Congress on proposals related to the Tax on Financial Operations (IOF). At the time, parliamentarians blocked changes to tax rates proposed by presidential decree and a provisional measure that provided for a tax increase.
The survey also asked respondents to evaluate the Legislative Branch: 37% considered the performance of federal deputies and senators to be bad or terrible and 15% rated it as good or excellent. The largest share, 43%, believes that Congress is regular.
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The survey interviewed 2,004 voters in face-to-face interviews carried out on May 12th and 13th. The margin of error is two percentage points, plus or minus, with a 95% confidence level. The survey was registered with the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) under number BR-00290/2026.
