Polls & Research
Archive Search
Venezuelans Split on Current State of Nation
.jpg)
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Roughly half of adults in Venezuela have no qualms with the state of affairs in the South American country, according to a poll by IVAD. 51.7 per cent of respondents rate the general situation as good, while 46.2 per cent believe it is bad.
Hugo Chávez—a left-leaning leader—has been in office since February 1999. In July 2000, he was elected to a six-year term with 59.5 per cent of all cast ballots. In August 2004, Chávez won a referendum on his tenure with 59 per cent of the vote. The special election was called after opposition organizations in Venezuela gathered 2.5 million signatures to force a recall ballot. In December 2006, Chávez earned a new six-year term with 62.89 per cent of the vote.
In December 2007, a package of constitutional amendments tabled by the president and endorsed by the National Assembly—where pro-Chávez lawmakers control more than two-thirds of the seats—was narrowly defeated in a nationwide referendum. The proposed changes included the introduction of a clause that would allow the unlimited re-election of the head of state, new land ownership rules, and ending the autonomy of the Central Bank.
On Oct. 16, Chávez dismissed concerns over a domestic economic crisis, saying, "Many wish for the price of oil to keep dropping to see us fall as well, but Venezuela will not sink. We have a consolidated system."
Polling Data
How would you describe the general situation of the country?
|
Good |
51.7% |
|
Bad |
46.2% |
Source: Venezuelan Institute for Data Analysis (IVAD)
Methodology: Interviews with 1,200 Venezuelan adults, conducted from Sept. 29 to Oct. 10, 2008. Margin of error is 2.4 per cent.