Poll indicates re-election of Brazilian president in 2006

Despite corruption charge againsthis government, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva would win the presidential election due in October 2006, according to the latest opinion poll.

The poll of Datafolha Institute conducted Thursday shows that Lula will be re-elected for a second term after defeating Sao Paulo Mayor Jose Serra, of Brazilian Social-Democrat party (PSDB),with a margin of six percentage points.

If presidential elections were held now, Lula would defeat all other contenders, including former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Sao Paulo Mayor Jose Serra and Sao Paulo Governor GeraldoAlckmin.

Roberto Jefferson, from the Labor Party, has accused the government of giving money to parliamentarians on a monthly basis for political support to the president.

Following the accusation, Presidential Chief of Staff Jose Dirceu resigned on Thursday.

The poll also reveals that the government's popularity has risen to 36 percent from 35 percent at the end of May, but is downfrom 45 percent in December 2004.

The Datafolha Institute said 2,100 voters were surveyed in 134 cities and the poll has an error margin of two percentage points.

Source: Xinhua