MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Half of Venezuelan population has “little or no confidence” in President Chavez

Support for the populist leader seems to be waning according to opinion polls

Venezuelan voters' confidence in President Hugo Chávez is beginning to wane as a result of the electricity crisis, water rationing, economic measures, decisions limiting private property and attempts at leading the country into a Socialist system.

According to a poll on Venezuela's governance, political situation and electoral expectations carried out by the Venezuelan Institute for Data Analysis (IVAD), at least five out every 10 Venezuelans say that they have “little or no confidence” in Chávez. Furthermore, six out of every 10 Venezuelans disapprove Chávez's behaviour with regard to the main issues affecting the country.

According to the IVAD, 39.8% of respondents believe that “the main responsibility for the electricity problem belongs to the government and President Chávez”. Regarding water shortage, 35% of citizens attributed the crisis to the meteorological phenomenon “El Niño,” whereas 29.4% blamed it on “the Venezuelan government and President Hugo Chávez.”

Government explanations about the positive impact of economic measures do not convince most Venezuelans, as 34.2% consider that such measures will help overcome the situation, while 57.6% say that the measures will worsen Venezuela's situation. Meanwhile, 55.5% of respondents consider that the measures are only geared by an electoral strategy.

On the other hand, the Chavez administration decision to expropriate farms, supermarkets, buildings, etc. is viewed as a threat to private property by 69.9% of respondents. According to IVAD poll, 70.1% prefers the private property model, while only 26.1% support social ownership and communal models proposed by the Head of State.

Criticism of President Chávez has a direct impact on political self-definition: 28.9% consider they are pro-Chávez; 41.2% are against Chávez and 23.1% would rather not be identified with either side. Meanwhile, 29.1% of people would rather vote for independent candidates in the coming parliamentary elections in September 2010.