(03/20/08) -

V¡zquez Gets a Boost in Uruguay

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Uruguayan president Tabaré Vázquez has become more popular this year, according to a poll by Interconsult published in Últimas Noticias. 56 per cent of respondents approve of their president’s performance, up 11 points since November.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Uruguayan president Tabaré Vázquez has become more popular this year, according to a poll by Interconsult published in Últimas Noticias. 56 per cent of respondents approve of their president’s performance, up 11 points since November.

Vázquez—nominee for the leftist Progressive Encounter (EP)—won the October 2004 election with 50.45 per cent of the vote, becoming the first Uruguayan president to represent a political organization other than the Red Party (PC) and the National Party-Whites (PN-B).

The president officially took over in March 2005, and began his government with majorities in the Chamber of Deputies—with 52 lawmakers in the 99-seat lower house—and the Chamber of Senators—with 18 legislators in the 31-seat upper house.

On Mar. 3, Vázquez reshuffled his cabinet, saying, "These changes are not the result of a political crisis or spontaneous, on the contrary they were carefully planned in October 2004 when our coalition won the elections." The Uruguayan president added: "(In 2005), we targeted a cabinet team that could transmit strength and solidness," combined with the "necessary balances" to ensure a peaceful administration of government.

José Mujica, a former guerrilla member who served as agriculture minister; former minister of housing and environment Mariano Arana; and orthodox Socialist foreign affairs minister Reynaldo Gargano were all replaced by new personnel.

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of the performance of Tabaré Vázquez as president?

Source: Interconsult / Últimas Noticias
Methodology: Interviews to 890 Uruguayan adults, conducted from Mar. 1 to Mar. 5, 2008. Margin of error is 3.2 per cent.