Cecília Jorge
Reporter - Agência Brasil
Brasília - Brazilians' perception of corruption has changed in the past weeks, as has their interest in the investigations underway in the Congress, according to poll results announced yesterday (13) by the National Transportation Confederation (CNT).
Whereas in July, 40.3% believed that corruption had increased in Lula's administration, the figure now stands at 54.5%. Opinions have also changed with respect to the comparison between the current and the previous administration. In May, most of the people surveyed (65.8%) thought that corruption in the current administration was less than or the same as in the previous administration, and only 26.7% considered it greater. In September, 48.9% affirmed that corruption is greater under the present administration, while 44.4% said that it is smaller or equal to what it was before.
Brazilians' interest in the accusations of corruption in the country has grown. Around 44% of the population is accompanying the investigations and the work of the Parliamentary Investigation Commissions (CPIs), as against 38.1% in July. Another 35.5% has heard about the accusations, and 15.2% is either unaware of the matter or is not paying it any attention.
As for the sphere of government in which corruption is most pervasive, there was also a shift of opinion: For 22.6% of the people surveyed, the problem occurs most in the legislative branch; for 16.1%, in the executive branch; and for 12.7%, in the judicial branch. In December, 2003, the executive was considered the most corrupt (21.1%), followed by the legislature (12.5%), and the judiciary (10.2%). In both polls approximately 33% responded that corruption occurs in all three branches.
The work of the CPIs that are investigating the charges of corruption (in the Post Office, Vote Buying, and Bingo Parlors) is regarded as excellent or good by 32.2% of the people surveyed, so-so by 32.6%, and poor or very poor by 29.6%. As for the results of the CPIs, 24.1% believe that no lawmaker implicated in the accusations will have his mandate revoked. Around 55% bet that the mandates of at least some deputies will be revoked, and 15.5% think that all those involved will lose their mandates.
Four deputies are already responding to disciplinary processes in the Ethics Council of the Chamber of Deputies - Sandro Mabel (PL-GO), José Dirceu (PT-SP), Romeu Queiroz (PTB-MG), and Roberto Jefferson (PTB-RJ). They are accused of operating the "mensalão" [the scheme of monthly payments to legislators from parties that form the administration's Congressional support base], receiving money from the PT to vote in favor of the government, influence-peddling in State enterprises, and making use of unreported campaign funds.
Another 17 deputies whose names are mentioned in the combined report of the CPIs on the Post Office and Vote Buying will answer to processes for breach of parliamentary decorum.
The poll commissioned by the CNT was conducted by the Sensus Institute, between September 6 and 8, in 195 municipalities. Two thousand people were interviewed. The margin of error is plus or minus 3%.
Translation: David Silberstein
