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Chile’s Bachelet Rides High in Final Year
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public support for Chilean president Michelle Bachelet has continued to increase as her term winds down, according to a poll by CERC. 65 per cent of respondents approve of Bachelet’s performance, up five points since April.
Bachelet—a former defence minister—was elected in a January 2006 run-off as the candidate for the centre-left Agreement of Parties for Democracy (CPD) with 53.49 per cent of all cast ballots. She officially took over as president in March 2006.
Since taking office, Bachelet has faced massive protests staged by high school students complaining about the poor quality of public education, as well as street demonstrations in Santiago, the capital city, over the botched implementation of a new transportation program called Transantiago.
On Aug. 10, Bachelet discussed the state of democracy in the Americas, saying, "The crisis in Honduras has been the most recent reminder that democracy in the region is not fully consolidated. It is not enough to hold elections periodically; we need to consolidate institutions and the rule of law."
Bachelet is ineligible for a consecutive term in office. The first round of Chile’s next presidential election is scheduled for Dec. 11.
Polling Data
Do you approve or disapprove of the performance of Michelle Bachelet as president?
|
|
Aug. 2009 |
Apr. 2009 |
Dec. 2008 |
|
Approve |
65% |
60% |
49% |
|
Disapprove |
24% |
28% |
42% |
Source: Centro de Estudios de la Realidad Contemporánea (CERC)
Methodology: Interviews with 1,200 Chilean adults, conducted from Jul. 17 to Aug. 3, 2009. Margin of error is 3 per cent.