Zema Dismisses Polls Impact and Stays Confident in Voter’s Choice

Former Governor of Minas Gerais Romeu Zema, a candidate for the presidency under the Novo party, recently stated that election polls are not the only factor to consider during his campaign. In an interview, Zema expressed optimism despite having lower voter intention ratings compared to direct competitors such as Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro. 'If it depended on the polls in 2018, I would never have been elected governor of the state,' said Zema, recalling that his name was often between fourth and fifth place in recent weeks. For the economist, this story reflects a complex phenomenon of how elections work in Brazil: 'Election is like a menu; the voter will open it at the moment they decide to taste it,' stated Zema. The candidate also praised author Augusto Cury for his significant increase in votes and visibility recently. 'Congratulations to Dr. Augusto Cury, who has had an innovative phenomenon with a great advancement,' said Zema, recognizing the strength of Brazilian democracy in this aspect. However, when questioned about whether he had made any mistakes by not participating in a televised debate on Band on August 23rd, the candidate responded that his decision was based on Lula's absence and general campaign circumstances. The persistent decline in Flávio Bolsonaro’s poll ratings is also mentioned as something to be observed by the financial market, reflecting changes in voter preferences within this complex political scenario.