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Lula Gets Majority Support in Brazil
- Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva could win Brazil's presidential election in the first round, according to a poll by Zogby International and the University of Miami School of Communication. 53 per cent of respondents would support the Worker's Party (PT) member.
Sao Paulo governor Geraldo Alckmin of the Brazilian Party of Social Democracy (PSDB) is second with 20 per cent, followed by former PT member and senator Heloisa Helena of the Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL) with 11 per cent.
Lula—a three-time presidential candidate—won the October 2002 election with 61 per cent of the vote in a run-off against the PSDB's Jose Serra. In the first round, Lula received 47 per cent of the vote, while Serra garnered 24 per cent.
Last year, the Brazilian government was 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. 18, Alckmin criticized Lula's relationship with other leftist South American administrations, saying, "Brazil should not become subject to the interests of others. My government will defend the interests of Brazil."
The presidential election is scheduled for Oct. 1. If no candidate garners more than 50 per cent of all cast ballots, a run-off will take place on Oct. 29.
Polling Data
Who would you vote for in the presidential election?
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) | 53% |
Geraldo Alckmin (PSDB) | 20% |
Heloisa Helena (PSOL) | 11% |
Source: Zogby International / University of Miami School of Communication
Methodology: Interviews with 941 likely Brazilian voters, conducted from Jul. 29 to Aug. 12, 2006. Margin of error is 3.3 per cent.
