(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – With a presidential election in the horizon for Brazil, the popularity of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva keeps growing, according to a poll by Datafolha published in Folha de Sao Paulo. 76 per cent of respondents say Lula’s presidency has been good or very good, up four points since February.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – With a presidential election in the horizon for Brazil, the popularity of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva keeps growing, according to a poll by Datafolha published in Folha de Sao Paulo. 76 per cent of respondents say Lula’s presidency has been good or very good, up four points since February.
Lula—a member of the Worker’s Party (PT)—won the October 2002 presidential election with 61 per cent of the vote in a run-off against Jose Serra of the Brazilian Party of Social Democracy (PSDB). In October 2006, he earned a new four-year term, defeating PSDB candidate Geraldo Alckmin with 60.8 per cent of the vote in the second round. Lula is ineligible for a third consecutive term in office.
In 2006, Lula’s party was affected by a series of corruption scandals. The socialist-leaning president—also a former union leader—led a strong economy with conservative fiscal policies during his first mandate, and was praised for his poverty-reduction initiatives.
Several media reports have suggested that Lula is likely to take on a position related to global relations, probably at a multi-national institution, once he leaves office.
On Mar. 17, Lula said his government wants to speak to representatives of the Palestinian organization Hamas in order to help stalled peace talks in the Middle East, declaring, "Brazil is prepared to talk to everybody. All the parties involved must be listened to."
The first round of Brazil’s next presidential election is scheduled for Oct. 3. Lula is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term in office.
Polling Data
How would you rate the performance of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as president?
|
|
Mar. 2010
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Feb. 2010
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Dec. 2009
|
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Good / Very Good
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76%
|
73%
|
72%
|
|
Average
|
20%
|
20%
|
21%
|
|
Bad / Very Bad
|
4%
|
5%
|
6%
|
Source: Datafolha / Folha de Sao Paulo
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 4,158 Brazilian adults, conducted on Mar. 25 and Mar. 26, 2010. Margin of error is 2 per cent.
