Brasília, June 30, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - After six months in office, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's performance is rated excellent or good by 42% of the Brazilian population, according to a Datafolha poll. This index continues stable in comparison with the poll taken in March, when the President received a 43% approval rating. The current poll also showed that 43% consider the President's performance fair, while 11% gave him a poor or very poor rating.

Brazilians still expect the President to do more for Brazil. 45% of those who were interviewed said that, up to the present, Lula has done less than they expected of him. Another 30% affirmed that he did exactly what they expected, and 17% said that the President has done more than they expected from him during the period. For 50%, Lula's Administration is better than Fernando Henrique Cardoso's, 30% consider the two identifical, and 13% consider the current Administration worse.

Among those who voted for the PSDB candidate, José Serra, in the second round of last year's presidential elections, 51% rate Lula's Administration as fair, 24% consider its performance as excellent or good, and 23% give it a poor or very poor rating.

The President's approval rating is above average among residents of the South (49%), North (47%), and Center-West (47%). Lula enjoys better ratings among men (46%, as against 39% among women), Brazilians between 16 and 24 years old (46%), and those who have attended universities (45%). Among those who voted for Lula in the second round, 50% approve of his performance, 40% consider it fair, and 6% rate it as poor or very poor.

The study also shows that Brazilians are optimistic about the economy. In spite of this, the population is disappointed over the Administration's performance in combatting unemployment. After three months in office, this was classified as the country's principal problem by 31%; now, 42% assign it this position. Before Lula took office, 27% thought that this would be the sector in which Lula would do best. In March, 13% pointed to this area as the one in which the PT's performance was worst. This percentage now stands at 20%.

For 38%, workers are the group that has been harmed the most, and 27% consider politicians the group that has benefitted the most. Bankers are also doing well, according to the survey. Prior to Lula's inauguration, 17% thought that the banks would be harmed the most. Six months later, the same index registers that they are the ones the Administration has benefitted the most, and only 2% believe that they are the ones who have been harmed the most.

For those who were interviewed, the Administration's best performance has been in combatting hunger. Even so, the percentage of the population who hold this opinion fell from 38% in March to 26% in June. In addition to unemployment, the areas cited as problems for the Administration are: hunger and extreme poverty (12%), public safety (15%), health (7%), and education (3%).

The poll was conducted in 152 cities, and 2630 people were interviewed, between June 24 and 25. The maximum margin of error is 2%, plus or minus. (DAS)