MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Record approval for Dilma, but Brazilian voters’ heart is with Lula da Silva
The former president is the preferred candidate for the next presidential election Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's administration reached a record-high approval rating in April but voters still long for the return of predecessor Lula da Silva, a newspaper reported.
Sixty-four percent of Brazilians believe Rousseff's administration is doing a good or excellent job, up from 59% in January, the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper said, citing a poll by its Datafolha research division.
It is the highest approval rating for Rousseff's administration since she took office in January 2011, the newspaper said.
Rousseff's personal approval rating was even higher, at 68%, with her handling of Brazil's economic slowdown and a tough stance against corruption making her among the most popular democratically elected leaders in the world.
Latin America's largest economy has cooled under Rousseff, expanding at a disappointing 2.7% after having been hit by fallout from the European debt crisis and slowing growth in China. But Rousseff has remained popular throughout thanks to strong credit growth, low unemployment and rising wages, which have helped cushion the impact of the economic chill.
Still, when asked who they would prefer as the ruling Workers' Party candidate in the next presidential election, 57% of those polled chose Lula while 32% preferred Rousseff, Folha said.
Lula da Silva, a folksy former union leader, presided over an economic boom that lifted more than 20 million Brazilians out of poverty, with the economy expanding at a 7.5% in his last year in office.
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Read all comments“with the economy expanding at a 7.5% in his last year in office.”
Apr 23rd, 2012 - 12:30 pm 0But the financial climate in Brasil is now somewhat deifferent and Rousseff is doing OK.
Why would anyone in their right mind want the stress of presiding over any country, even Brasil, when they have been 'cured' of cancer. Being cured usually is only announced after five years free of cancer. I hope he listens to hid doctors for his own sake.
Chris, they've both had cancer.
Apr 23rd, 2012 - 03:17 pm 0The issue is 'Dilettante populism' (Lula) versus 'making things happen' (Rousseff).
It should be a no-brainer, but whenever did brain-power prevail over populism.
LULA!
Apr 23rd, 2012 - 04:39 pm 0LULA!!!
LULAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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