The majority of Brazilians identify more conflict than cooperation in the relationship between the PT government and Congress. Research shows that 70% see a predominance of confrontation between the Executive and Legislative branches. Another 20% say there is more collaboration, 2% do not identify one thing or the other and 8% did not know how to answer.
The survey interviewed 2,004 people in 139 municipalities from May 12 to 13, 2026. The margin of error is 2 percentage points, plus or minus. The confidence level of the survey is 95%. The research is registered with the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) under number BR-00290/2026. The study cost R$307,641.60 and was paid for with its own resources.
Most of the interviews were carried out before the one in which the senator (PL-RJ), pre-candidate for President, asks the founder of Banco Master, Daniel Vorcaro, for money to finance the film which tells the story of his father, the former president (PL).
The majority perception of confrontation follows a sequence of defeats by the Lula government in Congress. The most recent was the Senate’s appointment of the minister of the AGU (General Attorney’s Office), Jorge Messias, for a vacancy in the STF (Supreme Federal Court).
Since 2023, congressmen have imposed setbacks on the Executive. That year, they removed powers from ministries. In 2024, they overturned the project on pesticides, known as . In 2025, changes to the IOF (Financial Operations Tax) and a provisional measure that increased taxes were blocked.
The government, on the other hand, managed to approve relevant guidelines, such as aea for those earning up to R$5,000. Lula is also trying to advance the .
Among those interviewed who see more confrontation than collaboration, 89% say the relationship is negative for Brazil. Only 10% claim to be positive.
Datafolha asked: “Is this relationship positive or negative for Brazil?” Here is how those interviewed who see more confrontation than collaboration responded:
- It is positive: 10%;
- It is negative: 89%;
- It is neither positive nor negative: 1%;
- Don’t know: 1%.
In the group that sees more collaboration than confrontation, 58% evaluate the relationship as positive for the country. Another 38% say it is negative.
Datafolha asked: “Is this relationship positive or negative for Brazil?” Here is how the interviewees who see more collaboration than confrontation responded:
- It is positive: 58%;
- It is negative: 38%;
- It is neither positive nor negative: 2%;
- Don’t know: 2%.
The survey also shows deterioration in the image of Congress. The performance of deputies and senators is considered bad or terrible by 37% of those interviewed. Another 43% rate it as regular, and 15% say it is excellent or good.
The result was stable in relation to the previous survey, carried out in March, when 39% rated Congress as bad or terrible, 42% as average and 14% as excellent or good.
The negative assessment is similar between Bolsonarists and PT members. Among those who identify with Bolsonarism, 37% classify the work of Congress as bad or terrible. Among PT members, the rate is also 37%.
