Polls & Research

Peru’s García Plummets to 32% After Protests

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public support for Alan García fell markedly in Peru, according to a poll by Apoyo published in El Comercio. 32 per cent of respondents approve of the president's performance, down 10 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.

Since taking office, the president has pursued an "austerity" project, which included a decree to cut the salaries of Peru's mayors. García defended the measure, saying it makes little sense to have overpaid public servants in regions where most people live in extreme poverty.

On Jul. 17, a farm labourer was killed after protesters clashed with security forces in southern Peru. A series of ongoing demonstrations—led mainly by teachers and farm workers—had started twelve days earlier to object a proposed law that would have forced teachers to take competency tests. Other groups later joined the protests for different reasons, including the rejection of a free trade deal with the United States.

Yesterday, García defended his decision to enact 11 legislative decrees to deal with organized crime and gang activity, saying, "The whole country must know that, when it comes to grave crimes, the capabilities of the police and the judiciary will be expanded as of this moment." The new regulations include a provision to punish people who direct kidnappings from jail, as well as tougher sentencing guidelines for people convicted of money laundering.

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of Alan García's performance as president?