The Far-Right Doesn't Always Win: Public Conversations on Brazil's "Anti-Abortion Bill" in the Chamber of Deputies' Digital Platforms

Abstract

The public debate around moral and cultural issues in contemporary Brazil has often been dominated by the conservative camp. However, there are instances where far-right narratives do not prevail entirely. One such case is Bill 1904/2024, which seeks to criminalize legal abortion in Brazil after 22 weeks of pregnancy. This article analyzes empirical data drawn from public comments on Bill 1904/2024 in two online platforms hosted by the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies: the YouTube live chat during the session that approved the bill's urgency status, and the comments section of an open survey published on the Chamber's official website. Using automated content analysis techniques, the study identifies lexical patterns and the heterogeneity of responses, measured by the number of clusters (CHD) associated with each position on the bill. The findings reveal a decline in far-right dominance within these online participatory arenas. This outcome is closely tied to three main factors: (1) the mobilization of civil society, (2) the role of mainstream media, and (3) the reframing of the issue within the public debate. The coordinated actions of social movements, activists, and media outlets demonstrate the resilience of these actors, reflected in the ways they organize and communicate.