Expert: The idea that protectionism caused tariffs has no bearing on elections

Lucas de Aragão, partner at Arko Advice, assessed that the argument that the tariffs imposed by the United States are related to the protectionist history of the PT (Workers' Party) is unlikely to have a relevant impact on the next elections. In an interview with WW, the expert analyzed the rhetoric adopted by both the Lula government (PT) and Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) in the debate on the so-called "tariff".

When asked about the possibility of Flávio Bolsonaro using the PT's protectionist history to defend himself from criticism linked to his proximity to Donald Trump - criticism summarized by the term "TariFlávio", adopted by the government on social media -, Lucas de Aragão was categorical. "I think it's difficult, I think it's a complex, complicated explanation," he said.

For him, the argument, although it has a certain logic, would require time that the campaign does not have, especially in the face of a polarized electorate with little hope about the country's direction.

"I don't think this will convince a voter who is tired, a polarized voter, a voter who is not very hopeful or very confident about the direction of the country, who has a high level of rejection of both candidates", said the expert.

Aragão also highlighted that the construction of this argument should have started much earlier, and that the time remaining until the campaign is defined is too short for it to gain traction.

Participation in a public hearing as a defensive strategy
The expert also commented on Flávio Bolsonaro's visit to a public hearing, interpreting the movement as an attempt to prevent the term "TariFlávio" - used by the government on social media - from being consolidated in public opinion.

"His trip to participate in the public hearing was also designed to prevent TariFlávio's line, as the government said on the networks, from spreading", analyzed Aragão.

In the expert's assessment, Flávio Bolsonaro faces several simultaneous defense fronts, which makes it even more unlikely that he will deepen the PT's narrative of historical protectionism as a central strategy.

"I don't see that this argument that the tariff is the fault of Brazil's protectionist history, also or mainly in PT governments, is sustainable or a viable argument to start now and have a relevant effect on the campaign", he concluded.

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Source: CNN