MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Public opinion trust in Kirchner eroding.

Argentine's trust in President Nestor Kirchner's administration dropped 7% this month compared to June and is at its lowest since taking office in May 2003. According to a rating from the Torcuato Di Tella University this month the confidence index was 2,49 points while in June it stood at 2,68.

The public opinion poll was done between July 8/12 and shows that public opinion confidence in the Argentine government was 42 points below de average of president Kirchner's administration, but 82 points above the average of the statistic which was started in July 2001.

The monthly poll covers 800 interviews in the whole country and measures five aspects of the ruling administration with points ranging 1 to 5.

Even when in July 67% of those interviewed believe the Argentine government is solving the country's problems or knows how to do it but needs time, the percentage actually dropped 9,4 points compared to June.

The positive image of the Kirchner administration stands now at 49%, that is 9 points less than in June, and the percentage who believes that the majority of Executive members are honest also dropped to 48%, eight points less than the previous month. An important 45% believe public expenditure is managed with reasonable efficiency and 39% that it's done in the general interest.

When President Kirchner took office in May 2003 his popular standing reached 80%.

Another poll contracted by a Buenos Aires daily and limited to the metropolitan area indicates that President Kirchner's positive image stands at 70,5% in July, 8,5 points less than in June, and his negative image is 16,5%. Lack of security, unemployment, education and poverty, in that order, remain as the Argentine government's main challenges.