MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Insecurity, main concern of four out of ten Argentine voters

Insecurity is the growing, sustained concern among Argentines according to a public opinion poll published Sunday in Buenos Aires daily La Nacion. Poliarquia Consultants state that 39.3% of Argentine residents consider insecurity the country's main problem, which also represents a 12.1 percentage point advance over September's opinion poll.

Even more daunting is the fact that the latest release was finished three days before the vicious killing, which remains unexplained of three policemen that has shocked Argentine public opinion and political leadership. Second in the list comes inflation and the continuous hike of prices, but quite distant from insecurity. Currently it stands at 14.9%, having advanced 3.6 percentage points from September's 11.3%. Among the issues that lost intensity figures corruption which dropped 3.2 percentage points from 6.8 to 3.6%; unemployment decreased 3.1 percentage points and stands at 11.9%; concern with Argentina's leadership and politicians fell to 1.6% and lack of future or opportunities dropped to 1.6%. Problems with Education decreased to 3.7% and "low salaries" contracted one percentage point to 1.4%. In the last fifteen days (Sept. 30/Oct. 16) approval of President Nestor Kirchner fell 0.3 percentage point from 57.3 to 57%. But disapproval advanced 3.1 percentage points from 32.5% to 35.6%. The positive image of the current situation in Argentina also eroded 2.2 percentage points to 18% and the negative image jumped 2.6 points to 35.5% Among those interviewed and have a positive image of the current situation of Argentina, 69.1% said they will be voting for incumbent Cristina Kirchner in next Sunday's presidential election. She's followed by Lavagna with 6.5% and Ms Carrió, 6.2% The First Lady also has a greater vote intention among those who consider negative the country's situation: 29.4% will vote for her; Ms Carrió, 18.3% and Lavagna, 11%. Similarly with those who consider that the country's situation has deteriorated in recent times: 28.7% will vote for the First Lady; 17.2% for Ms Carrió and 15% for Lavagna. However among those who predict even worse times ahead for Argentina, Ms Carrió leads with 19.5% followed by Mrs Kirchner, 16.2%. Four out of ten voters interviewed by Poliarquía consider that the situation in Argentina has worsened according to the latest public opinion poll. Last September the percentage was 36, but now has risen to 39.3%. However 35.1% expect things to improve while another 31.7% said the situation has effectively improved (compared to 31.6% in September). Finally 28.2% believe that things remain unchanged, which is 2.5 percentage points less than in September. The public opinion poll contracted by La Nacion and published on the Sunday edition interviewed 1.288 residents (and voters) in Argentina, over the age of 18 living in urban centers with more than 2.000 people. An Argentina who anticipated his vote was the country's football icon Diego Maradona. In a television interview he announced he would be voting for First Lady Cristina, "even when this is macho country". He added "I hope she wins with 90% of the vote so there's no run off". As to runner up Elisa Carrió "she's unbearable".