MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentines support Congressional debate of farmers' bill

A clear majority of Argentines supports the government's decision to send the sliding export tax on grains and oilseeds to Congressional consideration, according to public opinion polls released in coincidence with the 100th day of the stand off between the administration of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and farmers.

According to the pollster Analogías, 74% of interviews supported the initiative involving Congress while 23.1% are against it. Furthermore 61% of Argentines believe the congressional debate will "help solve" the ongoing conflict. "They majority of interviews, leaving aside political inclinations, supports the new route" said Ibaromento, a second pollster. According to this public opinion poll 69.9% consider as proper the decision to let Congress decide whether the new sliding system should be implemented. Farmers reject the new tax which they consider "confiscatory" and drafted by people who know little about camp activities. Other opinion polls also show the impact of the 100-day stand off between the Argentine government and farmers on the presidential image. Mrs. Kirchner's popular positive standing according to a public opinion poll from Poliarquía is now below 20 points, having lost 36 points since the beginning of the year. More specifically Mrs. Kirchner's image since March when the controversial sliding export taxes on grains and oilseeds were hiked triggering the conflict, her standing has lost 26 points. In May only the erosion was 6 points. When Mrs. Kirchner took office on December 10th last year she had a positive image of 51 points; in January she managed to climb to 56 but since she has been sliding to below 20 this month, according to Poliarquía. The interviews also showed that only 4% have a "very good" opinion of the Argentine president, and 16% a "good" opinion. The poll was taken in 40 urban centers (with over 10.000 inhabitants) of Argentina interviewing 1.000 people, over 18 years, between June 2 and 10. A poll from Giacobe & Associates similarly gives evidence of the erosion of support the Argentine president is undergoing since having won the election last October with 46% of the vote. Currently her support has dropped to 19.9%, which is four points less than a month ago.