Brasília, July 2, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The second poll conducted by the CNI/Ibope this year registered a decline in the Administration's approval rating, but it revealed that, despite this, the popularity of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva remains high. The index of those who consider the Administration good or excellent fell from 51% to 43%, while those who consider the Administration poor or very poor totalled 11%, as against the 7% recorded in the previous poll, held in March. The national survey was carried out between June 19 and June 23, involving 2 thousand people 16 years old or more, in 145 muncipalities. The margin of error is 2.2%, plus or minus.
The program to combat hunger and poverty was cited by 50% of those who were interviewed in the survey as the highlight of the activities developed by Lula's Administration up to this point. 30% considered the fight against unemployment the worst program. From what the poll picked up, the general mood of the population is one of optimism, with indications of confidence in a favorable performance in the economic indexes, basically those concerned with inflation, unemployment, and income.
The study also shows that, despite the decline in the Administration's image, Lula received a higher rating in his first half-year in office than the four previous Presidents, with a rating slightly higher than that of ex-President Fernando Henrique Cardoso.
The difference between those who have confidence in the President, 76%, and those who don't, 19%, amounts to 57%. In March, this difference was 64% (80% had confidence in the President, and 16% didn't). The most recent Presidents received the following ratings in the same type of CNI/Ibope poll in their first six months in office, in the good/excellent category: José Sarney (36%); Fernando Collor (35%); Itamar Franco (21%); Fernando Henrique Cardoso, in his first term (40%); Fernando Henrique Cardoso, in his second term (16%); and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (43%).
In the CNI/Ibope poll, the economy stands out with a significant level of optimism. The index of people who believe that inflation will increase fell from 61% to 36% between March and June. Those who believe that inflation will fall rose from 14% to 32%. According to the poll, in the opinion of the Brazilian population, 62% of those who were interviewed think that the year will be good, an index close to the 64% registered in March. On the other hand, 34% of those who were interviewed think that 2003 is bad or very bad. In March this percentage was 33%. (DAS)
