Rodrigues says the media won't bring down Dilma.
According to journalist Fernando Rodrigues, a political columnist for Folha de S.Paulo, Aécio Neves, Eduardo Campos, and Marina Silva have been given ample space to attack the Workers' Party administration, but this does not seem to be enough to shake the president's popularity.
247 - Why is it that opponents receive so much space to attack President Dilma Rousseff, and yet her popularity continues to grow? Journalist Fernando Rodrigues, from Folha de S.Paulo, discusses this paradox. Read below:
Misguided opposition
Fernando Rodrigues
BRASILIA On her third day in Italy, Dilma Rousseff finally managed to get 24 seconds to greet Pope Francis. This secured her a spot on the news. Today, she will have a longer meeting with the pontiff. And she'll likely receive more free media coverage.
Meanwhile, in Brazil, an Ibope poll was released regarding the popularity of the president's administration.
In December, 62% considered the Workers' Party government "good" or "excellent." Now, that figure is 63%. In the Northeast, the approval rating jumped significantly, exceeding the margin of error: from 80% to 85%.
Multiple factors underpin Dilma's high popularity. Although obvious, it's worth repeating one of the main ones: the unemployment rate remains at a very low historical level.
But the Ibope poll reveals some less obvious curiosities. For example, 20% of Brazilians think Dilma's government is better than Lula's.
This percentage has never been so high and, for the first time, it surpasses the 18% who consider Dilma's administration inferior to Lula's. It's the creature gradually surpassing its creator.
Another piece of data is noteworthy: people's perception of the news coverage of Dilma's government. For the first time since the beginning of her term, more Brazilians believe the approach is more positive (38%) than neutral (34%) or negative (11%).
The opposition will say that those interviewed are influenced by the recent avalanche of government propaganda. "Brazil without Poverty" and "free medicine" are two campaigns currently bombarding Brazilians on TV.
It could be. But the three opposition presidential candidates – Aécio Neves (PSDB), Eduardo Campos (PSB), and Marina Silva (Rede) – have been given ample media space to attack Dilma's administration. In vain. The discourse has not resonated with voters. The anti-Dilma strategy still seems quite misguided.