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| Fernando Haddad Lula's Finance Minister - Photo: Reproduction |
In recent months, the Brazilian internet has been entertained by a new central figure in its memes: the Finance Minister of Lula's government, Fernando Haddad. The creativity of netizens spared no one, and Haddad was crowned “The Greatest Taxman of All Time.” The wave of jokes and montages comes in response to the minister's tax increase policies.
The most popular memes include parodies of classic films. “Mad Max” became “Max Taxadi,” portraying Haddad as a post-apocalyptic warrior who taxes everything in sight. “Beauty and the Beast” turned into “The Tax and the Beauty,” with Haddad in the role of the Beast, trying to convince Beauty to accept yet another tax. Even “101 Dalmatians” got a version: “101 Taxes,” where each dog represents a new tax imposed by the government.
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These creations reflect the sentiment of part of the population, which sees the tax increases as a solution that further burdens Brazilians. “It's a humorous way to criticize something that affects us a lot,” commented a Twitter user. “Laugh so you don't cry,” said another.
In response, the Workers' Party (PT) downplayed the impact of the memes. The PT's Secretary of Communication, Deputy Jilmar Tatto, stated: “It won't catch on.” According to Tatto, Haddad's true legacy will be “the one who lifted tax burdens,” referring to the tax relief measures the minister has promoted to ease the tax burden on specific sectors.
Fernando Haddad, meanwhile, has not publicly commented on the memes, but his office says the minister is aware of the criticism and that the government is seeking solutions to balance the budget without harming the population.
The Brazilian internet, known for its creativity and ability to turn any topic into a joke, continues to produce new versions of these memes, while debates over the government's fiscal policy remain heated.
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