(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Alan García’s popularity has apparently stopped plummeting, according to a poll by Ipsos, Apoyo, Opinión y Mercado published in El Comercio. 68 per cent of respondents disapprove of the president’s performance, down eight points since June.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Alan García’s popularity has apparently stopped plummeting, according to a poll by Ipsos, Apoyo, Opinión y Mercado published in El Comercio. 68 per cent of respondents disapprove of the president’s performance, down eight points since June.
In June 2006, García—a member of the American Revolutionary People’s Alliance (APRA)—won Peru’s presidential election in a run-off against nationalist Ollanta Humala of the Union for Peru (UP). In July, García officially took over as president. He had previously served as Peru’s head of state from 1985 to 1990, when he oversaw a major economic crisis.
In October 2008, García accepted the resignation of his entire cabinet following allegations of corruption related to oil concessions. Leftist politician and Lambayeque region president Yehude Simón took over as Peru’s new prime minister.
In May, García allowed the country’s army to support police in handling an escalating clash with indigenous groups in the Amazon region. Native leaders have been protesting the government’s new, looser regulations to allow for the exploitation of natural resources in the area. More than 30 people died in clashes between natives and security forces.
On Jun. 30, Simón acknowledged that, following talks with native leaders, the government would table a bill asking the legislature to repel the decrees that led to the confrontations.
On Jul. 11, Simón was replaced by Congress president Javier Velásquez in a new cabinet shuffle. García made the announcement, declaring, "Agitators are spreading, disturbing the tranquility of the country’s homes. I trust this will be my last cabinet, to spur the reforms the country needs to ensure continued growth."
Polling Data
Do you approve or disapprove of Alan García’s performance as president?
|
|
Jul. 2009 |
Jun. 2009 |
May 2009 |
|
Approve |
27% |
21% |
30% |
|
Disapprove |
68% |
76% |
62% |
Source: Ipsos, Apoyo, Opinión y Mercado / El Comercio
Methodology: Interviews with 1,000 Peruvian adults, conducted from Jul. 15 to Jul. 17, 2009. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
