(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – A large majority of Uruguayans endorse the leadership of José Mujica, according to a poll by Equipos Mori. 71 per cent of respondents approve of their president’s performance, up eight points since May.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – A large majority of Uruguayans endorse the leadership of José Mujica, according to a poll by Equipos Mori. 71 per cent of respondents approve of their president’s performance, up eight points since May.
Tabaré Vázquez—nominee for the left-wing Progressive Encounter – Broad Front (EP-FA)—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 National Party-Whites (PN-B) and the Red Party (PC). Vázquez officially took over in March 2005, and began his government with majorities in the Chamber of Deputies and the Chamber of Senators.
In November 2009, Mujica—the EP-FA nominee—won the presidential run-off with 52.39 per cent of the vote, defeating former president Luis Lacalle of the PN-B. In March, Mujica was sworn in as president, replacing Vázquez. The EP-FA retained its majorities in both the upper and lower houses.
Just weeks after Mujica submitted a bill to Congress seeking to improve conditions in jails across the country, seven inmates died during a fire at a prison in Rocha city. The president apologized to the families of the victims, adding that the tragedy brings to mind "the sorry state" of Uruguayan prisons where conditions are "below human standards" and "an insult to dignity."
Polling Data
Do you approve or disapprove of José Mujica’s performance as president?
|
|
Jun. 2010
|
May 2010
|
|
|
Approve
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71%
|
63%
|
|
|
Neutral
|
16%
|
19%
|
|
|
Disapprove
|
11%
|
11%
|
|
|
Not sure
|
2%
|
7%
|
|
Source: Equipos MORI
Methodology: Interviews with 700 Uruguayan adults, conducted from Jun. 18 to Jun. 25, 2010. Margin of error is 3.7 per cent.
