MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chavez support plummets but opposition still under

Pte. Hugo Chavez

Support for Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez government has fallen to its lowest level since 2003, according to a new public opinion poll still reflecting damage from a stinging referendum vote defeat last December.

The government had 34% support, the opinion poll published in the El Nacional newspaper said, down from 43% at the end of last year when Chávez lost a referendum to extend his powers. Since losing the December vote, which would have allowed him to run for re-election indefinitely and speed up socialist reforms, Chávez has promised to attack high crime and shortages of some basic foods. The new poll, taken at the end of February, suggests he is struggling to convince traditional supporters that his government can resolve those day-to-day issues, along with high inflation. Chávez has warned officials the government risks important losses in elections for state governors and mayors later this year if it does not improve its performance. Currently, the vast majority of governors and mayors are Chávez allies. In power since 1999, President Chávez overcame a short-lived coup in 2002 and a crippling opposition-led shutdown of the oil industry soon after. But he went on to win re-election in 2006 with a large majority. Buoyed by public approval of social spending on health care and education, and confidence in the fast growing oil economy, support for the government peaked at 67% in 2005 and stayed above 50% until the middle of last year. The latest public opinion poll was conducted before President Chávez ordered tanks to the border in a fierce diplomatic dispute with Colombia over an incursion in Ecuadorian territory that awoke fears of war in the region. However Venezuela's fractured opposition has failed to significantly capitalize on the government's popularity slump, the survey by respected polling company Datos showed. It put support for other parties at 27 percent, up from 24 percent at the end of last year.