Lula da Silva has the highest approval rating; Cristina K the lowest

Thursday, April 16th 2009 - 09:53 UTC

Full article 13 comments

Brazil’s President Lula da Silva and Colombia’s Alvaro Uribe with over 70% approval have the best leaders’ performances in Latinamerica while in the other extreme figure Argentina’s Cristina Kirchner and Honduras Manuel Zelaya, below 30%, according to the prestigious Mexican pollster Consulta Mitofsky. Read full article

Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules

Diego Martinez
Im just curious why MercoPress did not show how popular Chavez is, he is the 5th most popular leader in Latin America. But not a word about him, I can sense some bias in this site. Chavez, the only leader not mentioned...thats very interesting.
Apr 16th, 2009 - 10:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
Ben
Because Chavez is a dictator and has no opposition as he has imprisoned them, so Venezuelans approve of Chavez or else.
Apr 16th, 2009 - 06:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
Gab
Regardless, Diego is correct. Chavez, weather you like it or not was elected, weather a dictator or not, still enjoys a high acceptance rate by its people...
I am of no particular affiliation, but also began to notice some bias...
Apr 16th, 2009 - 09:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
Expat Kelper
Well Hitler and Mussolini were elcted and pretty popular in their time until they set their own backsides on fire by their own stupidity. Perhaps what you see here is not bias but an awareness of the historic coincidences and difficulties of trying to compare real democracy with those who claim democracy under false pretences.
Apr 16th, 2009 - 11:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
Gab
Hitle and Mussolini.... wow, where did that come from?... the article talks about the popularity of contemporary Latin American leaders, I do not have to defend Chavez, but by merely pointing out the fact that he was omitted, it might indicate bias against populist governments by the author of the article.
Apr 16th, 2009 - 11:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
Gab
Carlos, thanks for pointing that out to me.
Apr 16th, 2009 - 11:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
Carlos
Diego and Gab: suggest you look at the last paragraph of the article and then refer directly to Consulta Mitofsky in Spanish. I've followed Mercopress for several years and can't agree with the “bias” description, although we must admit that Mr. Chavez, even when successful in most elections and referendums and nobody questions his legitimacy, he remains a controversial figure in Latinamerica.
Apr 16th, 2009 - 11:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
Luis
To those who said chavez is a dictator, i want to know what proof they have to make those assumptions.
Apr 17th, 2009 - 12:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
Alex
Chavez is simply taking political advantage of the needs and ignorance of a big portion of Venezuela's people. As are doing other so called left wing leaders, who are nothing more than demagogic caricatures of themselves.

But he is not a dictator (at least not yet). Democracy has the theoretical right of self destruction, and saying that Chavez is a dictator simply does not help make the point against him. It is simply centering the discussion on semantics rather than on the true harm he is causing on his country and the region.
Apr 17th, 2009 - 03:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
Luis
Alex you are right, he is not a dictator, who dare to compare a president elected democraticaly with a dictator obviously has never seen a dictator, and never lived under a dictatorship.
And yes he is too leftist to be suspicious of demagogic, but if he keeps his promesses he will be fine.
Apr 17th, 2009 - 10:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
Alex
Oh yes Luis. HE will be fine... not so sure about his people. But if that is what they want, they can have it. The rest of the region, though, did not vote him and should not have to cope with his nosy intromissions on other's affairs and ideologization cruzade. So much about US imperialism...
Apr 17th, 2009 - 11:51 am - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
Luis
Alex where are you from? honestly.
Apr 17th, 2009 - 12:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
Alex
I'm from Uruguay Luis. But whoever cares about me anyway?
Apr 17th, 2009 - 11:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
-+

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!