MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile's president performance rating: 76%

With only a year before his term is up, a categorical 76% of Chileans approve Socialist President Ricardo Lagos administration, according to an opinion poll conducted by independent firm Ipsos Chile.

The figure is an advance of a larger research to be published next May under the name of "Ibero-American Barometer" with public opinion assessment of the different heads of government in Latinamerica.

According to the advance of the report, only 17,1% disapprove Ricardo Lagos' performance, while 62% rated it as "good" or "very good" and 14.1% as "fair".

The Socialist president received the highest average rating - 3.7 on a scale of 1 to 5 - among the three presidents Chile has had since its return to democracy in 1990. The top score Eduardo Frei Ruiz Tagle, (1994-2000), ever managed was 3.4, while Patricio Aylwin, (1990-94) 3.2. Both belong to the Christian Democratic Party.

However 37% of Chileans consider unemployment the nation's top problem, whereas last year it was only 20%. Next on the list are corruption considered the top problem by 18% of respondents, and the national health scheme, with 14%.

Regarding trust and confidence in institutions, 77% replied banks and education; 75% aviation; and 72%, Chilean Armed Forces.

At the other extreme figure political parties with 12%; political leaders 13% and the written press with 28%.

The public opinion poll was conducted March 3-9 interviewing 500 people, over 18, in Chile's fifteen major cities. Error margin is plus/minus 4%.