Polls & Research

Unprecedented Fall for Uribe in Colombia

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - For the first time since he took office in 2002, Colombian president Álvaro Uribe has lost a significant amount of public support in the country's main cities, according to a poll by Gallup. 66 per cent of respondents approve of Uribe's performance, down six points since March.

Uribe has been Colombia's president since August 2002. In the May 2006 election, he won a new four-year term with 62.2 per cent of all cast ballots. Uribe was able to run again after the House of Representatives and the Constitutional Court officially sanctioned a plan to allow presidential re-election in the South American country.

In July 2003, Uribe and leaders from the paramilitary United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) signed an agreement in which the latter committed to gradually demobilize its factions and cease to exist by December 2005. The process was completed in mid-2006.

Several members of Uribe's administration, as well as lawmakers from different pro-presidential parties, have been recently linked to investigations for their proximity to illegal paramilitary organizations. On Jul. 6, former intelligence chief Jorge Noguera—who had been appointed by Uribe—was arrested for allegedly providing right-wing death squads with sensitive information that led to killings. Thirteen other Uribe-aligned lawmakers have been arrested as well, including Mario Uribe, the president's cousin.

On Jul. 11, Jorge Rojas, the head of Colombia's top human rights group CODHES, commented on the situation, saying, "It is very worrying that the 'para-political' scandal is getting closer and closer to the president's inner circle."

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of Álvaro Uribe's performance as president?