MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Congress scandal has not influenced Lula da Silva’s record approval rating

Lula da Silva has been untarnished by his ally Senator Sarney

Brazilian president Lula da Silva has an approval rating of 67% and his image has not been tarnished by the corruption scandals involving his powerful ally Senator Jose Sarney, according to the latest public opinion from Datafolha, published Sunday by Folha de Sao Paulo.

According to the poll Lula da Silva is three points above his best Datafolha reading from November 2008, when he measured 70%. These results coincide with other public opinion polls which reported a support as high as 80%.

Datafolha also points out that no Brazilian president since 1990 has managed 67% approval rating having been in office six and a half years.

The poll included 4.100 interviews in 171 cities taken between August 11 and 13 with a two percentage margin error.

“Lula da Silva has managed to overcome the Congress crisis untouched, untarnished”, said Mauro Paulino, Dtafolha director.

Paulino added that Lula da Silva’s leadership is seen as unlinked with the corruption claims surrounding Senate president Jose Sarney.

This is also confirmed by the fact that 73% of those who support Lula da Silva, at the same time favour the ousting of Sarney from the Senate.