MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chavez, Morales and Castro helping Peru's Garcia

A majority of Peruvians disapprove of presidents Evo Morales from Bolivia; Fidel Castro from Cuba and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez according to a public opinion poll released Friday by the University of Lima.

The survey done between last Friday and Sunday and included 2.400 people from all over Peru, (244 urban and rural districts) shows that 69.2% of Peruvians disagree with Venezuelan president Chavez performance, with only 17.2% approving.

President Chavez attitude of calling Peruvian presidential candidate Alan Garcia "corrupt" was rejected by 59.3% of interviews and supported by 36.1%. His decision to call back the Venezuelan ambassador in Lima following a serious verbal confrontation with Peruvian authorities, including current president Alejandro Toledo, was condemned by 60.6% and approved by 13.5%.

Regarding Evo Morales, Bolivia's first aboriginal president, 46.2% of Peruvians disapprove his performance, but 32.6% support him. Similarly 42.5% said they are against Mr. Morales' nationalization plans (oil and land) and 31.2% approve them.

As to Fidel Castro's regime in Cuba, he received the largest disapproval 60.5% with 26.6% supporting him.

The opinion poll is important since the Peruvian electorate faces the presidential election run off next June 4 and one of the candidates and winner of the first round, ultranationalist former Army officer Ollanta Humala has been openly supported by Venezuela's Chavez and Fidel Castro.

Candidate Garcia has taken advantage of the polarization and has attacked President Chavez for disregarding and disrespect to the Peruvian presidential institution and president Alejandro Toledo. Furthermore Bolivian president Morales called Mr. Toledo a "scoundrel" for having signed a free trade agreement with United States. On this background the latest University of Lima survey shows Mr Garcia ahead with 61.9% vote intention and Mr. Humala with 38.1%.

The poll also showed that 34.4% of Peruvians believe Mr Garcia is "well prepared" to become president; 12.3% consider him intelligent but among his defects are the fact he "lies" 36.8% and 16.1% who consider him "dishonest".

Regarding Mr Humala, he's valued as a natural leader by 17.1% of interviews and 10.8% as a hard worker, however 36.8% describe him as "authoritarian" and 13.8% "ill prepared" to become president.

Mr Garcia, 56, a Social democrat and former president, 1985/1990, actually has nothing to be proud off: his administration was an economic disaster and there were also strong allegations of corruption. Peruvians are adopting the attitude that he is the lesser of evils and hoping that in twenty years he has matured sufficiently to overcome he's rather naïve approach when he was first elected president at the age of 35.

A total of 16.4 million Peruvians are entitled to vote next June 4. The elected president will be taking office July 28, Peru's Independence Day.