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(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa continues to draw high numbers as a new election draws near, according to a poll by Cedatos/Gallup. 70 per cent of respondents in the South American country approve of their president’s performance, down one point since December.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa continues to draw high numbers as a new election draws near, according to a poll by Cedatos/Gallup. 70 per cent of respondents in the South American country approve of their president’s performance, down one point since December.
Correa, a former finance minister, ran for president as an independent leftist under the Alliance Country (AP) banner. In November 2006, Correa won a run-off with 56.69 per cent of the vote. He officially took over as Ecuador’s head of state in January 2007, and vowed to change the country’s Constitution. Correa’s party nominated no candidates to the National Congress.
In September 2008, Ecuadorian voters ratified a new constitution in a nationwide referendum. The draft was approved by the pro-government majority in the Constituent Assembly.
Correa recently attended the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolution. On Jan. 12, he said he would ask United States president-elect Barack Obama to consider lifting the commercial embargo on Cuba when they meet at a summit in April, stating, "We’ll talk at that summit about signs of a significant change in U.S. behaviour at least toward the [Latin American] region, and ask for the release of five Cuban prisoners or the lifting of that absurd, five-decade blockade of Cuba."
Under the terms of the new constitution, Ecuador will hold a new presidential election on Apr. 26. Correa is eligible for a new term in office.
Polling Data
Do you approve or disapprove of Rafael Correa’s performance as president?
|
|
Jan. 2009 |
Dec. 2008 |
Nov. 2008 |
|
Approve |
70% |
71% |
71% |
|
Disapprove |
27% |
26% |
25% |
Source: Cedatos/Gallup
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 1,250 Ecuadorian adults, conducted in January 2009. Margin of error is 3.4 per cent.
