The anti-PT sentiment in 2026 will likely be the main variable defining the October elections, depending on how much this sentiment will be attenuated or exacerbated. The article points out that there is a certain crisis of meaning about what exactly aggregates this "anti-PT" sentiment.
The text explains that this sentiment is not based on an economic discourse from the late 1990s, nor on the desire to change the system established in 2018. The voters who are part of this group feel traces of other issues, such as the shift in the tone of customs, a discourse less conducive to entrepreneurial capitalism, and the lack of self-criticism about how to make social programs more efficient and favor a transition so that beneficiaries are absorbed by the labor market.
Qualitative research conducted by the Plaza Pública Institute in August 2026 reveals nuances of how this collective fluctuates between emotions and arguments. The study identifies two main audiences that define this sentiment.
The first group is described as being in "airplane mode," characterized by repeating past mantras with some updates, including references to historical scandals, the former president's time in prison, and the alleged lack of commitment to values such as "family."
