April 10, 2003

Abstract: (CPOD) Apr. 10, 2003 - Residents of Portugal are not happy with the performance of Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, according to a poll by Marktest. 53 per cent of respondents say the prime minister's administration has been bad or very bad.

(CPOD) Apr. 10, 2003 - Residents of Portugal are not happy with the performance of Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, according to a poll by Marktest. 53 per cent of respondents say the prime minister's administration has been bad or very bad.

Durao Barroso's Social Democratic Party (PSD) achieved a minority government one year ago, with 40.1 per cent of votes and 105 seats in the Assembly of the Republic. The last few weeks have been harsh on the government, as environment minister Isaltino Morais resigned due to fraud allegations, and public works minister Luis Valente left his post for health reasons.

Portugal is suffering an economic recession and a growing unemployment rate of 6.2 per cent, still below the European Union (EU) average of 7.8 per cent. Portugal and Greece have the highest poverty levels of all current EU members.

Durao Barroso has been severely criticized for his stance on the Iraqi conflict, after hosting a meeting in the Azores islands with United States president George Bush, British prime minister Tony Blair and Spanish president Jose Maria Aznar on Mar. 16.

Polling Data

How would you rate the administration of Jose Manuel Durao Barroso so far?

Very Bad	20.7%
Bad	32.4%
Good	34.3%
Very Good	1.6%

Source: Marktest
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 810 Portuguese adults, conducted in late March 2003. Margin of error is 3.44 per cent.