The vote, the people, and the letter

Notes on the legitimacy of Evangelical demands during Lula’s 2022 presidential campaign

Abstract

The article proposes an analysis of the "Letter to the Evangelical People" released by Lula's campaign in 2022, during the second round of the presidential elections, from the perspective of Ernesto Laclau's Populist Reason. Divided into three sections, the paper explores the strategic importance of the "evangelical vote," highlighting how the campaign directed itself to this segment through specific communications. It argues that the "political time" promotes adherence between candidate and electorate, framing it as a public with specific demands for representation and communication. The second section addresses the "evangelical people" as a contingent discursive construction of demands that equate, emphasizing Lula's letter that highlights the main requirements of this group: the guarantee of the secular state and the protection of family and life. These themes not only legitimize the group's participation in public discourse but also create the necessary bonds of adherence for the campaign. In the third section, the focus is on the letter as an electoral strategy, situating it in relation to the "Letter to the Brazilian People" from 2002. It emphasizes how the evangelical segment transcends mere strategic adherence, consolidating itself as a recognized political actor in the polarized scenario that extends beyond the 2022 elections. The text concludes by emphasizing the complexity with which the relationships between religious subjectivities and Christian action should be considered, highlighting the growth of the segment and its impact on the national religious identity, signaling significant changes in Brazilian politics and society.