Blame Avoidance and Corruption: How Politicians' Denials Shape Citizen Perceptions and Political Accountability

ABSTRACT When accused of corruption, politicians often employ strategies to defuse blame, yet little is known about how voters respond to these defenses. This study investigates whether public denials by politicians accused of corruption influence electoral accountability and how positive and negative partisanship shape voter reactions. Using a 2019 online survey experiment conducted in Brazil, we find that denials significantly improve the accused politician's public image and electoral prospects, particularly among partisan respondents. Notably, negative partisans are especially responsive to these defense strategies. These findings shed light on the significant role political elites play in shaping public reactions to corruption, offering new insights into the dynamics of electoral accountability and democratic governance.