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Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
President Lula Stays Popular in Brazil
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - A large majority of people in Brazil endorse their president's performance, according to a poll by Instituto Sensus. 64 per cent of respondents approve of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's job at leading the country, up 0.3 points since April.
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.
In 2006, the president'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.
In late June, Brazilian health minister Jose Gomes Temporao announced the government's plan to distribute free morning-after pills—which can be administered within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse to prevent a pregnancy—to poor women. A month ago, Lula had vowed to provide cheap birth control pills at 10,000 drug stores across Brazil.
Temporao, who took office in March, has emerged as an outspoken advocate of birth control, abortion, the fight against AIDS and several other issues affecting Brazil. When he was sworn in, the new minister declared: "Health has become the right of every citizen and the duty of the state."
Polling Data
Do you approve or disapprove of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's performance as president?
Jun. 2007 | Apr. 2007 | Jul. 2006 | |
Approve | 64.0% | 63.7% | 55.8% |
Disapprove | 29.8% | 28.2% | 37.0% |
Source: Instituto Sensus
Methodology: Interviews with 2,000 Brazilian adults, conducted from Jun. 18 to Jun. 22, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.