MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean president Piñera has 45% approval rating and 29% negative

In Santiago support for the Conservative president was even lower

President Sebastián Piñera received a 45% approval rating, while disapproval rates reached 29%, according to a survey reported last week by the Center of Public Education (CEP).

The results placed him as the president with the lowest approval rating for the first few months in office since Chile’s return to democracy in 1990. Former President Michelle Bachelet had an approval rating of 46 in July 2006, only a few months into her presidency, while former President Ricardo Lagos had a 49% approval rating from November to December in 2000.

Still, toward the end of her presidency, Bachelet received ratings of 78% – making her Chile’s most popular president since democracy returned to Chile in 1990. Even now, months after leaving office, Bachelet still receives a 77% approval rating, according to the CEP poll.

The Piñera administration suggested that there was a one-month lag in the July survey, as it reflected Piñera’s cold relationship with Marcelo Bielsa, the national soccer team’s coach, as well as criticism of the president’s informal style of leadership.

The administration further said the survey does not account for the positive reaction to recent figures showing the country’s economy recovering quickly after the Feb. 27 earthquake and from the global financial crisis.

In the survey, Piñera received a 39% approval rating for his handling of the economy, while 54% of Chileans surveyed said his administration had dealt well with the earthquake, considering Piñera came into office only weeks after it occurred.

Regarding topics that the government should focus on, 56% said it should concentrate on solving crime, something Piñera has been campaigning against since March. Also, 36% said health was a priority, with 35% choosing education.

“All governments have had approval ratings that are significantly lower to the ones they obtained when they were elected,” said Public Works Minister Rodrigo Hinzpeter. “If we take into account the earthquake, the cold wave and other adverse situations, such as snowstorms in Coyhaique, this is an approval that leaves me calm and confident for the future.”

In the Santiago Metropolitan Region, Piñera had a slightly lower approval rating of 41%. This is largely attributed to a series of fare hikes in the Transantiago public transport system. In a bid to increase his popularity in the capital, Piñera has just completed a two-week tour in Santiago, with activities in La Moneda, the presidential palace, and visits to schools.

He is planning a tour of South America, which will be his biggest trip since taking office. During this one-month tour, he plans to visit at least all of the region’s capital cities.

By Radhika Sanghani – Santiago Times