Most Brazilians Against Privatization of Public Companies: Poll

A recent poll conducted by the Unified Workers' Central, or CUT, and VOX revealed that the majority of Brazilians are against the privatization of publicly-owned companies. The survey, which was released on Monday, cited increased prices for products and services, sacking of workers and reduced salaries as reasons for not wanting public companies privatized.

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While 69 percent of respondents said they were against the privatization of Brazil's majority publicly-owned oil giant, Petrobras, 59 percent said the only people who are interested in the sale of the company are business owners, investors and the rich, according to Rede Brasil Atual.

Sixty-one percent and 58 percent of respondents are against the privatization of publicly-owned banks Caixa Economica Federal and Banco do Brasil, respectively.

Another 57 percent said they are against the sale of Brazil's publicly-owned energy company Eletrobras.

More than half said they are against privatization in general.

With Brazil's budget deficit calculated at reaching almost US$50 billion dollars as of August last year, the senate-imposed government of Michel Temer has been preparing a privatization package that could net US$28 billion dollars by the end of 2018.

The measure, however, has provoked strong criticism from social organizations and leftist political parties in the country, who assert that the privatization of state assets favors business interests and non-citizens.

"When they have nothing left to sell, they'll sell their souls to the devil," said former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

He contended that the maneuver would lead to a rise in public debts and force Brazil to resort to its international reserves, funds that, in his opinion, should be used to rebuild the Brazilian economy.