Just over two months into the new presidency, there are signs that the image of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Lula) and his administration is beginning to lose its luster.

The media now present Lula and some of his closest aides as tired, anguished, and under pressure.

Writing on the challenges the government faces, political analyst Gaudêncio Torquato affirms: “Those who thought the PT era would be paradise are now beginning to realize there is a detour through purgatory. The president is thus left to grapple with a fading public image” (“A prova de fogo do presidente,” O Estado de S. Paulo, 3/2/2003).

“Presidente Lula was advised not to speak excessively,” reports Época magazine. “The reason is because the government is now dealing with unpopular issues. The Zero Hunger project hype is wearing out. Odds are that ministers José Dirceu and Antonio Palocci will have to employ damage control caused by negative press” (Agenda negativa, 3/10/2003).

Commentators note that Lula and his government have made many promises but failed to take any concrete measures. As far as they are concerned, the only outstanding government achievement has been its own marketing.

Great expectations generated by the Lula da Silva propaganda machine make it hard to turn campaign promises into immediate concrete achievements.

Political scientist Christopher Garman writes: “President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva risks wasting his 'honeymoon' with public opinion and generating great frustration.” And he continues: “The government made a big mistake by fanning expectations that some reform could be carried out during the first year” (Silvio Bressan, “Especialista não acredita em reformas ainda este ano,” O Estado de S. Paulo, 3/2/2003).

Economist Paulo Rabello de Castro emphasizes: “The government's policy agenda is fraught with doubts and can end up by generating even greater frustration” (Rubeny Goulart, “Os caminhos do governo Lula,” Forbes, 2/15/2003).

With its image declining, the Lula government is under strong pressure from its own supporters to change its economic policy and strive for profound transformations in line with the PT's leftist ideology. This creates uncertainty.

Others have warned President Lula not to fall into temptation.

“ There are still doubts whether the government, with its leftist bent, will survive internal pressures from the groups that brought it to power. 'One hopes Lula will not succumb to economic populism,' says Loyola [ex-president of the Central Bank]” (Rubeny Goulart, “Os caminhos do governo Lula,” Forbes, 2/15/2003).

An editorial in O Estado de S. Paulo admits that changing economic policy would be madness. “President Lula must keep resisiting the temptation to find an easier route” (“Não há Plano B,” O Estado de S. Paulo, 3/8/2003).

Analyzing economic policy, journalist Rolf Kuntz notes: “President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has a simple, easy and quick way to destroy his government. All he needs to do ... is to implement great transformation once and for all.”

“ If he has not yet been immunized, President Lula should look for a vaccine against the temptation of magical solutions” (“Se Lula ceder, destruirá seu governo,” O Estado de S. Paulo, 3/6/2003).

Source: Lula Watch