Datafolha Survey Reveals 34% of PT Supporters Identify as Right-Wing, Highlighting Brazil's Complex Political Landscape
A Datafolha survey reveals significant right-wing identification among Workers' Party supporters, indicating a complex shift in Brazil's political identity.
- • 34% of PT supporters identify as right-wing according to Datafolha survey.
- • 76% of Bolsonaro supporters identify as right-wing, with 14% identifying as left-wing.
- • Political scientist Luis Gustavo Teixeira notes Latin American voters support leaders over ideologies.
- • 47% of Brazil's general population identifies as right-wing, 28% as left-wing, and 17% as centrist.
Key details
A recent Datafolha survey has revealed a surprising shift in political self-identification among supporters of Brazil's Workers' Party (PT), with approximately 34% of its base now identifying as right-wing. This finding challenges the traditional left-wing association of the PT and suggests a more fluid ideological landscape among Brazilian voters.
According to the survey, while 47% of PT supporters consider themselves leftist, 34% place themselves on the right, and the remainder identify as centrists or are unsure. In parallel, the survey highlighted that 76% of former President Bolsonaro’s supporters identify as right-wing, with 14% identifying as left-leaning, reflecting a complex cross-ideological dynamic.
Political scientist Luis Gustavo Teixeira provided insight into these results, noting that in Latin America, political allegiance often centers more around leaders than rigid ideological lines. "Latin American voters tend to support political leaders rather than concrete ideologies," Teixeira stated in an interview with Folha de São Paulo. This perspective helps explain why a notable portion of PT supporters might identify with right-wing politics despite their association with a traditionally leftist party.
The survey, which categorized respondents on a scale from 1 (Bolsonaro supporter) to 5 (PT supporter), reported that 40% identified as PT supporters and 34% as Bolsonaro supporters. Broader national trends revealed that 47% of the general Brazilian population identifies with the right, 28% with the left, 17% as centrists, and 8% remained uncertain about their political stance.
These findings underscore the complexity of Brazil’s political identity ahead of future elections and suggest a significant realignment or diversification within party support bases. The data indicates that Brazilian political behavior may be driven more by populist leadership than traditional ideological classifications, highlighting the evolving nature of political engagement in the country.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
