Brasília, 7/2/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - This year's second CNI/Ibope opinion poll found that there has been a drop in public opinion of the government, but that the popularity of president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva remains high.

The percentage of those interviewed who considered the government good/excellent fell from 51% in the first poll in March, to 43% at the end of June. Those who considered the government poor/very bad rose from 7% to 11%.

The same survey showed that in spite of the lower opinion of the government, the popularity of Lula right now is higher than the popularity of former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso at the same time in his (first) mandate (43% to 40%). It is also higher than that of other presidents at the same time: Jose Sarney was 36%, Fernando Collor, 35%; and Itamar Franco, 21%.

In the second survey the confidence index showed a change. In March, 80% said they trusted the government and 16% said they did not (a difference of 64 points). In June, the numbers were: 76% to 19% (a difference of 57 points).

The survey also reports greater optimism and trust in economic improvements (inflation, jobs and income). The survey interviewed 2,000 people, aged 16 or more, between June 19 and 23, in 145 municipalities. The CNI/Ibope survey has a margin of error of 2.2 points. (AB)