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Ecuador’s Correa Struggles to Maintain Popularity
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Fewer people in Ecuador are expressing support for Rafael Correa, according to a poll by Cedatos-Gallup. 44 per cent of respondents approve of the president’s performance, down five points since September.
Correa, a former finance minister, ran for president as an independent leftist under the Alliance Country (AP) banner. In November 2006, Correa won a run-off with 56.69 per cent of the vote. He officially took over as Ecuador’s head of state in January 2007. Correa’s party nominated no candidates to the National Congress.
In September 2008, Ecuadorian voters ratified a new constitution in a nationwide referendum. The draft was approved by the pro-government majority in the Constituent Assembly. Under the terms of the new constitution, Ecuador held a presidential election in April. Final results gave Correa 51.95 per cent of the vote. For the first time in 30 years, the Ecuadorian presidential election did not require a run-off.
Last month, Ecuadorian defence minister Javier Ponce confirmed the country’s purchase of two transport helicopters from Russia—at a cost of $ 22 million U.S.—adding, "There is also an opportunity to reach an important support at aerial and ground transport fields, with trucks, buses and other vehicles of military transportation."
Polling Data
Do you approve or disapprove of Rafael Correa’s performance as president?
|
|
Oct. 2009 |
Sept. 2009 |
Aug. 2009 |
|
Approve |
44% |
49% |
51% |
|
Disapprove |
49% |
44% |
44% |
Source: Cedatos/Gallup
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 1,668 Ecuadorian adults, conducted from Oct. 28 to Oct. 31, 2009. Margin of error is 3.4 per cent.