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Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Scandal Catches Up with Lula in Brazil
Credit:UN/DPI Photo
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Fewer Brazilians are satisfied with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, according to a poll by Ibope. 29 per cent of respondents have a positive opinion of the president's performance, down seven points since July.
Lula—a three-time presidential candidate for 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).
The Brazilian government has been the target of criticism after Brazilian Labour Party (PTB) member Roberto Jefferson declared that members of two political organizations—the Liberal Party (PL) and the Progressive Party (PP)—received payments of up to $12,000 U.S. from the government in exchange for support in the legislative branch. Jefferson has so far provided no evidence to back his allegations.
On Aug. 11, advertising executive Duda Mendonca—who orchestrated Lula's 2002 presidential campaign—declared to congressional investigators that the PT partly paid for his services with funds from an offshore bank in the Bahamas in violation of electoral regulations.
On Aug. 22, finance minister Antonio Palocci said the corruption allegations made against him by a former aide would have no impact on the country's stability, saying, "In the past a political crisis could quickly cause problems in the financial area, but not today because of two reasons. First, our fundamental economic situation is very solid. We have a strong position in foreign trade. In second place, we have a sound democracy in Brazil."
Earlier this month, former aide Rogerio Buratti alleged that Palocci took bribes from a waste management company when he served as the mayor of Ribeirao Preto. Palocci has steadfastly denied the accusation.
Polling Data
How would you rate the performance of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as president?
Aug. 17 | Jul. 18 | Jun. 13 | |
Good / Very Good | 29% | 36% | 31% |
Fair | 38% | 40% | 41% |
Bad / Very Bad | 31% | 24% | 22% |
Source: Ibope
Methodology: Interviews to 2,002 Brazilian adults, conducted from Aug. 13 to Aug. 17, 2005. Margin of error is 2.2 per cent.