Brazilians Want Lula Arrested and Endorse Accusation Against President Temer

10/02/2017 - 11h11

Datafolha survey shows that Brazilians defend the arrest of former president Lula (PT) and the continuation of the accusation made by the Prosecutor General's Office against the current president in office, Michel Temer (PMDB).

Among those interviewed by Datafolha, 54% said the facts disclosed by the Lava Jato operation are enough to justify Lula's arrest.

On the other hand, 40% said there are no reasons to put Lula in jail - he was the president of Brazil from 2003 to 2010. Five percent did not answer.

In the case of president Temer, the difference between opinions is bigger: 89% said they are in favor of the Lower House authorizing the beginning of proceedings against him for criminal organization and obstruction of justice.

Only 7% said that they are against the approval of the accusation, which could lead to Temer's suspension for up to six months, if the accusation is accepted by the country's Supreme Court (STF).

Datafolha interviewed 2,772 people in 194 Brazilian cities on September 27 and 28 - the survey has a margin of error of two percentage points.

Lula was sentenced to nine years and six months in prison by Judge Sergio Moro for receiving an apartment in Guarujá (SP) as part of bribes paid by construction company OAS.

President Temer is accused of leading a criminal scheme, which allegedly received at least R$ 587 million (US$ 183 million) in bribes. In August, Brazilian congressmen blocked the first accusation against Temer - in it Temer was accused of passive corruption.

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

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	Beto Barata/Presidência/AFP
	Brazil's President Michel Temer (L) and former president Lula da Silva