RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 23 (Reuters) – Brazilian President Dilma
Rousseff’s popularity recovered from a recent drop caused by
massive street protests as the government tried to deal with the
sluggish economy and concern that inflation will rise, the
Estado de S. Paulo newspaper reported on Friday.
Those Brazilians who consider Rousseff’s administration
“excellent” or “good” rose to 38 percent from 31 percent a month
ago, the paper said, citing a poll conducted by Ibope public
opinion research agency for the National Confederation of
Industry.
The poll is the third to be released by the CNI and Ibope
since a wave of protests began in June in several Brazilian
cities against hikes in bus fares, poor public services,
corruption and government spending on the soccer World Cup.
Since the protests have died down Brazil’s currency has
extended year-to-date declines to as much as 15 percent, fueling
concern about inflation and a $60 billion currency intervention
program aimed at halting the slide.
The central bank has already moved to fight inflation by
raising interest rates, a move that could choke off economic
growth.
Rousseff’s excellent or good rating was 54.2 percent in
June, the newspaper said, citing Ibope and CNI.
The poll showed the percentage of people who rated
Rousseff’s government “bad” or “terrible” fell to 24 percent
from 31 percent from July. The percentage who considered
Rousseff’s performance “average” was unchanged at 37 percent.
Ibope conducted the poll among 2,002 Brazilians between Aug.
15 and Aug. 19. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 2
percentage points.
(Reporting by Jeb Blount; editing by Christopher Wilson)
