MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Two to one disapproval of Mrs. Kirchner's gov.

More loved without her husband around

By a margin of two to one Argentine public opinion disapproves of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's performance, according to a survey from consultants MBC-Mori and released Sunday by Buenos Aires daily Perfil.

The survey shows that 57% of Argentines interviewed disapprove of the government, which has seen its standing seriously deteriorated by the prolonged conflict with farmers over controversial export taxes. MBC-Mori also shows that 28% of interviews approve of Mrs. Kirchner's government. Dissatisfaction extends to the economic situation with 50% of interviews saying the situation is "bad" or "very bad", compared to 21% who describe it as "good" ore "very good". A clear majority of 61% also rejects the current official policy to contain inflation while only 12% support it. The Argentine official Statistics office has been seriously questioned by the private sector, international organizations and even technical staff from the office that was displaced by political appointees. A second survey also published by Perfil but from consultants Ibarómetro shows that 53.8% of Argentines have favorable expectations about the new cabinet chief, Sergio Massa, named last week to replace an exhausted and devalued Alberto Fernandez who had the post for over five years, including the four month conflict with farmers. However, 35% are not enthusiastic about the new official. A third survey from the Universidad Abierta Interamericana, UAI, reveals that 79.2% of interviews believe Nestor Kirchner, husband and presidential predecessor of Cristina Fernandez, should take distance from Mrs. Kirchner. Only 12.1% feel Mr. Kirchner who also happens to be chairman of the ruling Justicialista Party should remain (politically) next to his wife. The UAI poll also indicates that 34.2% of interviews feel the change of cabinet chief "does not modify" the functioning of government, while 27.8% interpret the replacement as a "renovation". But there is an overwhelming majority to see three of the staunchest Nestor Kirchner allies, "hawks" of Mrs. Kirchner cabinet ousted and they are, Planning Minister Julio De Vido, Domestic Trade Secretary Guillermo Moreno and Transport Secretary, Ricardo Jaime. Mr. Moreno, supposedly responsible for keeping inflation contained, is the most hated and 69.4% want him out; De Vido who manages the energy and public works portfolio, follows with 59.2% and Jaime, who was involved in the recovery for the Argentine state of flag carrier Aerolineas Argentinas, 43.7%.