MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Lula, Kirchner and Lagos, the most respected.

The presidents from Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Argentina, Nestor Kirchner and Chile, Ricardo Lagos are the most respected Latinamerican leaders following an opinion poll among the establishment of six countries of the region.

The opinion poll contracted by the University of Miami and published in "The Miami Herald" shows Mr. Lula da Silva leading with a 69% approval, followed by Mr. Kirchner with 56% and Mr. Lagos 55%.

The poll interviewed 537 individuals from the academic, political and economic elites from Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Mexico and Peru.

When asked, "how would you rate President George W. Bush qualify actions towards Latinamerica?" 82% responded negatively and only 12% positively.

Colombian president Alvaro Uribe managed a 45% approval; Peru's Alejandro Toledo 23%; Fidel Castro 25% and bottom of the list Hugo Chavez from Venezuela 16%.

According to "The Miami Herald" one of the main achievements of Mr. Lula da Silva was retaining investors in Brazil, because "left wing populists" usually make "investors very nervous".

The poll also showed that 45% of those interviewed were not satisfied with the democratic system, while 48% expressed satisfaction.

Regarding the economic situation in the last twelve months of the six countries involved, 49% said that Argentina, Chile and Colombia had improved, while 49% of Mexicans and 84% of Venezuelans said "things have worsened".