Monday, September 22, 2008

Peruvian prez' popularity plummets

Pop quiz: Which Latin American leader currently holds an approval rating below 20%?

Could it be Argentina’s Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner? Perhaps it’s Felipe Calderon of Mexico? What about Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega?

Would you believe me if I said the answer was Alan Garcia of Peru?

Garcia’s first presidential term between 1985 and 1990 was hampered by a massive economic crisis that included hyperinflation and soaring unemployment. The economy is again being a sticking point for Garcia as his latest approval rating plummeted to a minuscule 19%, a drop of 12 points in three months.

The survey of 1000 city-dwelling Peruvians by Ipsos also revealed that 69% of respondents were upset at the rise in prices and 43% accused him of not sticking to his campaign promises.

Peruvians’ disillusionment of Garcia also extends to other politicos according to another recently conducted poll:

Peru’s main opposition politician could win the first round of voting in the 2011 presidential election but would be defeated in the run-off, according to a poll by Ipsos, Apoyo, Opinión y Mercado published in Perú 21. 19 per cent of respondents would support Ollanta Humala of the Union for Peru (UP) in the ballot.

Keiko Sofía Fujimori—the daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori—is second with 17 per cent, followed by Lima mayor Luis Castañeda Lossio with 15 per cent, former president Alejandro Toledo with 10 per cent, former conservative presidential candidate Lourdes Flores Nano with nine per cent, and current prime minister Jorge del Castillo with five per cent.

Image- BBC News

Sources- The Latin Americanist, Angus Reid Consultants, Reuters, BBC News

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