Brazil inquiry absolves Lula, accuses party

[Judi Lynn]

Brazil inquiry absolves Lula, accuses party
Wed Apr 5, 2006 7:58 PM ET

BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - A congressional committee on Wednesday absolved Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a corruption scandal but accused his ruling party and its loyalists of vote-buying, marking a defeat for the government.

The government had tried to propose a milder version of the final report on the scandal in which the Workers' Party used illicit funds to finance election campaigns and is accused of bribing legislators.

The scandal erupted last June and has threatened to overwhelm the government, weakening Lula's chances of reelection should he decide to run in the October presidential race. Lula's closest confidant Finance Minister Antonio Palocci was forced to resign last week over related corruption allegations. He denies any wrongdoing.

The committee report accuses dozens of people linked to the government, including former Cabinet chief Jose Dirceu, as well as entrepreneurs, bankers and senior managers in some public companies. The prosecutor's office will analyze the accusations.
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http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=winterOlympics&storyID=2006-04-05T235802Z_01_N05236911_RTRUKOC_0_US-BRAZIL-POLITICS-CORRUPTION.xml

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Angus Reid Global Scan : Polls & Research
President Lula Maintains Big Lead in Brazil
April 5, 2006

(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva could earn a new term as Brazil’s head of state, according to a poll by IBPS published in Jornal do Brasil. 44 per cent of respondents would vote for the Worker’s Party (PT) member in this year’s presidential election.

Sao Paulo governor Geraldo Alckmin of the Brazilian Party of Social Democracy (PSDB) is second with 31 per cent, followed by Anthony Garotinho of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) with 13 per cent, former PT member and senator Heloisa Helena of the Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL) with eight per cent, Cesar Maia of the Party of the Liberal Front (PFL) with three per cent, and Roberto Freire of the Socialist People’s Party (PPS) with one per cent.

Lula—a three-time presidential candidate—won the October 2002 election with 61 per cent of the vote in a run-off against the PSDB’s Jose Serra. In the first round, Lula received 47 per cent of the vote, while Serra garnered 24 per cent. In prospective run-offs against either Alckmin or Garotinho, Lula holds the upper hand.
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http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/11459

[David__77]

1. I don't know who I would support.

Of these, probably Lula, only because he is supportive of better leaders in Latin America like Chavez and Morales. But he is implementing a thoroughly neo-liberal agenda of "free markets" and austerity. He must reverse course and return to his roots as a working class activist.