Has the Public Already Noticed?

Has the public already noticed that a certain political party has been using the same electoral tactic for the past 30 years? The public has noticed. After the advent of the internet, everything changed. This tactic is no longer as effective as it once was. And what is the tactic? The constant dissemination and promotion of polls from only a handful of polling institutes through traditional media outlets until the narrative becomes impossible to ignore. Draw your own conclusions, dear readers. People on the streets have already noticed.

So, is voting merely a routine civic exercise? Only the devil would doubt its importance. What is certain is that 2026 will be very different from 2022. Who holds the greatest influence on social networks, digital portals, and mobile devices? It is certainly not the political left. And which polling institutes are directly or indirectly linked to each pre-campaign and, later, to the electoral campaigns themselves? Stay attentive. Stay alert, and you may begin to notice the patterns for yourself. Have you observed that traditional media outlets enthusiastically publicize polls that seem to favor only one side of the political spectrum? Meanwhile, following the principles of balanced journalism, only a few outlets appear willing to report multiple perspectives and present both sides of a story.

Has the public also realized that much of the mainstream media seems to have already chosen its preferred pre-candidate and future candidate? They no longer make much effort to conceal it. What they lack is the courage and integrity to openly declare their preferences in editorials. It is a troubling situation. The reality, some argue, is that many of these organizations are burdened by debt and closely aligned with those who have benefited most from the current federal administration. Who, then, are the so-called “usurpers of the people”? Five or six traditional banks, perhaps, along with most digital banks?

Unlike previous election cycles, many citizens now openly state in bars, restaurants, and shopping malls that they will not support a certain pre-candidate, regardless of circumstances. Yet, did they forget to “consult the Russians”? This expression, deeply rooted in Brazilian culture, refers to plans and strategies developed without considering the intentions or reactions of the opposing side. Its origin is linked to a famous football anecdote from the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.

Before Brazil's match against the Soviet Union, coach Vicente Feola reportedly delivered a lengthy tactical lecture, explaining in detail how Brazil would play, attack, and defend. After listening patiently, Garrincha supposedly asked: “That’s all very well, Mr. Feola, but have you already discussed this with the Russians?” The brilliance of the remark lay in its simplicity. No matter how carefully a plan is designed, the other side also has objectives, strategies, and the ability to react. In politics, as in football, outcomes are never determined by one side alone.

Which raises another question: are suitcases full of money still enough to win elections? Has the public recognized this old formula? Polls combined with traditional media influence. Are polling institutes now the primary strategy relied upon to secure electoral victories? Some critics argue that faith has never been placed in principles or values, but rather in financial resources and the power of the state apparatus. In private discussions, politicians often portray the people as corrupt. “The people accuse us, but they are the ones who corrupt us,” they allegedly claim behind closed doors. Today, however, such conversations are no longer confined to private circles. Similar sentiments are openly discussed at bar tables, shopping centers, and public gatherings.

And when legal concerns are raised, what is often heard? “Everyone is protected; don’t worry about it.”  Yet a new factor has emerged. The prospect of political power itself may now be worth more than money. Networks of influence, alliances, and interconnected interests appear increasingly active and organized. Has the public fully realized this? The old strategy of polls amplified by traditional media? And who still pays attention to traditional media in the same way as before?

Brazil has changed. Many people no longer care about narratives that are merely repeated and reproduced. According to a growing current of popular opinion, traditional broadcast television increasingly appeals only to those who remain disconnected from the realities experienced by ordinary citizens. Whether one agrees or disagrees with this perception, it is a sentiment that can be heard with increasing frequency across the country, echoed daily in conversations, radio programs, and public debate.