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Brazil Government's Popularity Rising after Fall Due to Protests

The Brazilian government's popularity has started recovering after a steep fall following massive street protests over corruption and living standards, says a poll out Saturday.

The Datafolha survey, published by the daily Folha de Sao Paulo, put the approval rating at 36 percent this week, up from 30 percent in late June when it dropped 35 percentage points in the wake of the nationwide social turmoil.

It attributed the change to Brazilians' greater optimism about the country's economic performance, notably in the areas of inflation, purchasing power and unemployment.

The popularity of President Dilma Rouseff's government had peaked at 65 percent in March.

Datafolha also found that Brazilians were less optimistic about the impact of the nationwide demonstrations.

At the end of June, 67 percent said the protests -- which brought more than one million people onto the streets to demand better quality of life and an end to corruption -- would more beneficial than harmful.

That percentage dropped to 52 percent this week.

The poll had a margin of error of two percentage points and it was conducted between Tuesday and Thursday among 2,615 people in 160 cities.

Datafolha said support for the Rousseff administration was the strongest at 41 percent among the poorest Brazilians -- those earning twice the $300 minimum wage.

Among the richest, those earning more than 10 times the minimum wage, approval stood at 29 percent.

The percentage of those who believe the economy will improve rose from 44 percent to 48 percent.

Source: Agence France Presse


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