Brazil industry body poll reveals Rousseff’s trust deficit
July 2, 2015, 5:28 am

The Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff (center) on the maiden voyage of a new Petrobras oil ship Sea Dragon in Pernambuco state [Image: gov.br]

According to polling firm Ibope, only 9 per cent of Brazilians believe Rousseff is doing a good or very good job, while 21 per cent rated her performance as average, down from 23 percent in April. This is her lowest approval rating since she took office in 2011.

The percentage of those surveyed who consider Rousseff’s administration to be doing a bad or very bad job, rose from 64 per cent in April to a record high of 68 per cent.

The government is struggling with a rise in unemployment and a corruption scandal at state-oil giant Petrobras.

Only 20 per cent of Brazilians said they trust the president, compared to 78 per cent who refused to repose confidence in the left-leaning leader.

A vast majority, 82 per cent, said Rousseff’s second term has so far been worse than the first; 14 per cent said it was the same and 3 per cent said it was doing better.

The Ibope poll surveyed 2,002 registered voters in 141 cities across Brazil between June 18-21, with the margin of error at two percentage points.

Rousseff was re-elected in October with the narrowest margin of victory in Brazil’s electoral history.

The corruption scandal involving state-own oil giant Petrobras, which emerged before the elections, has cost several top politicians their jobs and sparked widespread discontent, especially with the ruling Workers’ Party.

Rouseff, initially facing calls of impeachment campaigned by opposition parties, has been cleared of involvement in the bribery and kickback schemes.

The country registered dismal economic indicators last year and the first quarter of 2015, and inflation is on the rise.

In May, the government announced a series of cooperation projects with China that are expected to help spur economic growth through en estimated investment of $50 billion.

In Washington, earlier this week, Rousseff met US President Obama and said she wants to attract more US investment to Brazil and funding for infrastructure projects.

The Brazilian leader will also meet her BRICS counterparts next week in Russia where they will announce the new BRICS Bank and $100 billion monetary fund to be open for business.

TBP and Agencies