Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has apologized for a corruption scandal that is rocking his government and threatening his own popularity.
In a televised address Friday, Mr. da Silva said his ruling Workers' Party must apologize for its mistakes.
The party is embroiled in a scandal over allegations it bought votes in Congress. There are also accusations that private businessmen bribed lawmakers.
Earlier Friday, a public opinion poll indicated the Brazilian leader would lose a re-election bid in 2006 because of the growing scandal.
On Thursday, the publicist behind Mr. da Silva's 2002 presidential campaign, Duda Mendonca told congressional investigators that he was partly paid for his services with illegal funds from an offshore bank.
Several lawmakers have resigned since the corruption scandal surfaced in June.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.