Polls & Research
Archive Search
Torrijos Slowly Regaining Support in Panama
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Martín Torrijos is slowly regaining public backing in Panama, according to a poll by Dichter & Neira published in La Prensa. 38.8 per cent of respondents rate the president's performance as excellent or good, a 14.6 per cent increase since June.
Torrijos—the son of Omar Torrijos, an army general who ruled Panama from 1968 to 1981—won the May 2004 presidential election as a candidate for the Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD) with 47.44 per cent of the vote.
The Central American country was the site of public demonstrations in June, after the government announced plans to reform the Social Security system—which is currently facing a $4 billion U.S. deficit—by urging workers to pay higher contributions. The proposal contemplates gradually rising the retirement age for men from 62 to 65 years, and for women from 57 to 60 years. It also establishes that workers should contribute to the fund for 20 years instead of 15 in order to retire with a pension.
On Jul. 5, the Panamanian government officially opted to "suspend" the reforms for three months. Torrijos said the 90-day period would allow revisions on certain aspects of the proposed changes.
Polling Data
How would you rate the performance of Martín Torrijos as president?
Jul. 2005 | Jun. 2005 | Mar. 2005 | |
Excellent / Good | 38.8% | 24.2% | 57.9% |
Bad / Very Bad | 57.6% | 73.4% | 37.3% |
Source: Dichter & Neira / La Prensa
Methodology: Interviews to 1,208 Panamanian adults, conducted from Jul. 2 to Jul. 4, 2005. Margin of error is 2.9 per cent.