Friday March 28, 07:46 PM
Solid Brazilian economy bolsters Lula's support
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BRASILIA (AFP) - Support for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his government is at a record high after more than five years in power thanks to a rock-solid economy that has spurred consumption, analysts say.
Approval of Lula's management hit 58 percent this month, the highest since he took charge in January 2003 and the culmination of steady rises since September 2007, according to the Ibope polling institute.
Over the same period, those with a negative view have dropped from 18 percent to 11 percent.
"It (Frankfurt: A0MLX5 - news) 's a surprising development, because generally we see in Brazil a political cycle with a decline after a certain moment. With Lula, what's different is that the approval rating stays high and shows signs of strengthening," said one political analyst, Walder de Goes.
"This approval rating for the president's management should continue, especially while the economy maintains its ability to resist international crises," he said.
Brazil's economy would likely grow four percent this year and another four percent next year, he forecast.
The National Industry Confederation, which has the Ibope carry out the survey every three months, agreed the strong economy was the reason for Lula's high score.
The head of the body's institutional relations office, Marco Guarita, said: "The good performance of the economy will generate positive expectations in people for the future."
With municipal elections due later this year, the sky-high popularity of Lula is seen as a key advantage to be used by political allies, especially those eyeing to take over the presidency in 2010 when Lula reaches the end of his maximum term in power.
Aldo Fornazieri, an analyst with the Political School Foundation in Sao Paulo, said all the candidates in the polls "are going to try to boost their ties with the federal government," in the hope some of the shine will rub off on them.
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