April 12, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Brazilian adults are almost evenly divided on the topic of capital punishment, according to a poll by Datafolha published in Folha de Sao Paulo. 47 per cent of respondents would vote to reinstate the death penalty in a referendum, while 46 per cent would vote against.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Brazilian adults are almost evenly divided on the topic of capital punishment, according to a poll by Datafolha published in Folha de Sao Paulo. 47 per cent of respondents would vote to reinstate the death penalty in a referendum, while 46 per cent would vote against.

The South American country abolished capital punishment in 1979, with the exception of crimes of treason committed in a time of war. Brazil ratified the Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty in August 1996.

In 2006, Movement for the Valorization of Brazil’s Culture, Idiom and Riches member Wagner Vasconcelos launched a controversial campaign to reinstate capital punishment for a wide range of offences, including corruption.

Vasconcelos explained his rationale, saying, "We have proposed an amendment to the constitution so that corrupt politicians face independent people’s tribunals that have the power to impose the death penalty—for large scale fraud of public money and betrayal of the fatherland’s military and business secrets."

Polling Data

How would you vote in a referendum on whether Brazil should reinstate the death penalty?

	Mar. 2008	Mar. 2007	Aug. 2006
In favour	47%	55%	51%
Against	46%	40%	42%
Not sure	7%	5%	7%

Source: Datafolha / Folha de Sao Paulo
Methodology: Interviews with 4,044 Brazilian adults, conducted from Mar. 25 and Mar. 27, 2008. Margin of error is 2 per cent.