MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguayans believe government is on the right track, but performance is missing

President Mujica governments on course, but results are very poor

A majority of Uruguayan believe the current government is on the right course but its performance is not satisfactory, according to a local public opinion poll from FACTUM. In effect seven out of ten agree with the course but the same percentages believe the performance is bad.

However when the question in consolidated in one, course and performance together, four out of ten agree with the diagnosis of good and bad. The profile of this group is mostly young people (below 35), neutral interest in politics, with completed secondary school education and belonging to a middle income family group, mostly government employees or working for the private sector.

Only 2 out of ten believe the Uruguayan administration is on the right course and is making a good performance. They are mostly residents in Montevideo, elderly, with interest in politics and mostly voted for the ruling coalition in 2009. Most of them have a low level of education and work independently.

Another 2 out of ten argue the government is on the wrong course and its performance is bad. They are over 45, with no interest in politics, who voted for the opposition in 2009; have tertiary education, belong to a high income bracket or are retired with good pensions.

Over the last four years of the current administration of President Jose Mujica, the perception that the government's course is right but performance bad, has become the prevailing public opinion. However the perception that the government was on the right track and had a good performance prevailed in 2010 and 2011, but by 2012 and 2013 the results were the opposite: course and performance bad. However in the six months of this year opinions are changing and divided almost equally, according to FACTUM.

When asked about the government's course of action, 70% responded positively, with an 89% support among those identified with the ruling coalition, and 48% among opposition voters.

As to performance of the government the 70% stood but negatively, with 53% among those identified with the ruling coalition, and 90% among opposition voters.

Uruguay will be holding presidential and legislative elections next 26 October.