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Speaking to the press, Tuesday, September 13, in Guatemala, where he was attending a regional summit, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared that he is not concerned about the recent drop in his popularity ratings.
The most recent CNT/Sensus survey showed a 9.9% fall in the president's popularity since a prior poll in August.
The National Transportation Confederation survey also found a drop from 40.3% to 35.8% in those who said the government's performance was positive.
"The survey does not reflect what the government can do. We are calm. The government is doing what it has to do. We are going to come out of this stronger than ever. This does not bother me," declared Lula.
Lula also said that the formal motion to expel the Speaker of the House, Severino Cavalcanti, should be treated like any other expulsion motion involving any other deputy.
"He should get the same treatment as other deputies. There is an accusation against him. He denies the accusation. Let the Congress investigate and only then decide," said the President.
Ethanol
The President of Guatemala, Oscar Berger, says his country could install an ethanol fuel program based on the Brazilian model which uses sugarcane to manufacture a fuel additive (for diesel and gasoline), as well as an efficient, low-polluting ethanol fuel.
Although Central American countries are sugar producers, they are completely dependent on petroleum for vehicle fuel. At the Brazil-Sica (Central American-Caribbean Integration System), summit which is taking place in Guatemala this week, it has become clear that the region and Brazil have converging interests and needs in this area.
According to Mário Vilalva, of the Commercial Promotion Department at the Foreign Ministry, this is the situation. On one hand, Sica is interested in making changes in its energy matrix, becoming less dependent on imported fuel.
On the other hand, Brazil is interested in exporting its ethanol fuel technology and factories, as well as transforming its ethanol fuel into an international market commodity.
There is also a strong possibility of exporting Brazilian hybrid cars to Central America and the Caribbean which do not manufacture vehicles.
Agência Brasil
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