Brasília, Brazil — President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is facing growing discontent from the Brazilian public and within his own administration, as both his leadership and the increasingly prominent role of First Lady Rosângela “Janja” da Silva come under intense scrutiny. With reelection on the horizon in 2026, political analysts say Janja’s outspoken style may be complicating the president’s path forward.
A recent Datafolha poll released on June 12 revealed that 36% of Brazilians believe the first lady’s actions are damaging Lula’s government, while only 14% think she is helping. The poll, which marked the first time Janja’s approval was directly measured, also showed Lula’s disapproval rating rising to 40%, up eight percentage points since October 2024.
Janja, a 58-year-old sociologist and long-time activist, has carved out a highly visible and vocal role that departs from Brazil’s traditionally ceremonial expectations for presidential spouses. Critics — including government insiders and political commentators — argue that her increasing influence and public presence oversteps democratic boundaries.
“She acts as if she has an official mandate, which she doesn’t,” said Beatriz Rey, a political science research fellow at the University of Lisbon. “It’s not about gender. It’s about institutional overreach.”
Outspoken and Unapologetic
The first lady has made headlines on multiple occasions. She was criticized for publicly insulting tech billionaire Elon Musk, and for allegedly advising Lula on the military response to the January 8, 2023, riots in Brasília — a moment viewed by many as crossing into political territory.
More recently, during a diplomatic dinner in Beijing, Janja reportedly addressed Chinese President Xi Jinping unprompted, warning him that TikTok’s algorithm was harming leftist voices. The off-the-cuff remarks — leaked to Brazilian media — sparked backlash from Lula’s allies, who feared diplomatic embarrassment.
Despite the criticism, Janja remains firm. “I won’t stay silent when something concerns the public interest,” she has said. Lula, for his part, has defended his wife, calling her a powerful voice for democracy and social justice.
A statement from the presidency emphasized that Janja “acts as a citizen,” leveraging her platform to support important social causes. But detractors argue that her public interventions often blur the line between advocacy and executive influence.
A Divided Administration
Privately, senior ministers and left-wing lawmakers are expressing concern that Janja may be doing more harm than good, with some warning that her polarizing style could hurt Lula’s reelection prospects. The frustration has been particularly pronounced since the Beijing incident.
“There’s a feeling that Brazil is being governed by a couple, not a president,” said Rey.
Even supporters admit Janja’s presence is complicated. A senior government staffer told the AP:
“Janja rejuvenates Lula. She’s a political asset. But her visibility brings her own controversies, and that rejection spills over onto the president.”
In response to the criticism, the ruling Workers’ Party (PT) launched a “I am with Janja” campaign on social media in May, aiming to counter negative perceptions. However, the initiative garnered limited traction, drawing fewer than 100,000 views and only modest engagement.
A Personal and Political Partnership
Janja and Lula, who married in 2022, met in 2017 and grew close during his imprisonment in Curitiba from 2018 to 2019. The bond they forged during Lula’s legal battles has translated into a strong personal partnership, now playing out on Brazil’s national stage.
As Lula, 79, eyes a potential fourth presidential run, analysts say the administration must strike a careful balance between empowering Janja’s activism and respecting the constitutional limits of unelected influence.
With public trust faltering and criticism mounting from both opponents and allies, Lula’s political future may hinge not just on economic performance or policy — but on the evolving role of Brazil’s most unconventional first lady.
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