(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public support for Hugo Chávez has significantly dwindled over the past two years, according to a poll by Alfredo Keller y Asociados. 47 per cent of respondents have a positive opinion of their president, down 17 points since 2006.

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.

Earlier this month, Chávez discussed the possibility of nationalizing three cement producers that operate in the South American country in order to deal with a housing crisis, saying, "Our people will solve the problem, it will not be solved by private enterprises. We welcome private enterprises and we will work with them, but not in this case."

Polling Data

Do you have a positive or negative opinion of Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez?

Source: Alfredo Keller y Asociados
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 1,200 Venezuelan adults, conducted from May 23 to Jun. 4, 2008. Margin of error is 2.9 per cent.

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