Peru's President Ollanta Humala sees popularity plummet.
Autor | Jana, Elsa Chanduvi |
President Ollanta Humala began the third year of his term on July 28 isolated politically, with the lowest approval rating since he took office and facing constant social protests against his administration.
In the latest Ipsos national urban poll commissioned by the daily El Comercio in August, Humala's approval rating fell to 29%, four percentage points lower than in July, when it had dropped eight points; since April Humala's approval rating has declined 22 points, based on previous Ipsos polls.
In the most recent poll, 64% of respondents said they disapprove of Humala "because he does not fulfill his promises/lies"; 53% "because of crime/a lack of citizen security"; and 38% "because prices are rising." At the same time, 38% believe "there is corruption in his administration" and 32% "that he has appointed the wrong people to public positions."
"Humala's betrayal of his electoral and governmental promises is his worst liability," said political analyst Raul Wiener, a columnist with the daily La Primera.
During his campaign, Humala promised to build a pipeline to transport natural gas from the Camisea fields in Cusco to areas in southern Peru. This project has been plagued by government delays in getting the project off the ground. Although the government insists that it will finish construction in the first half of 2016, specialists say that the goal is impossible to meet.
Humala also promised to maintain a permanent dialogue with workers. However, reforms in the health system, universities, and public administration promoted and pushed by the administration have been implemented without the participation of workers and civil society.
"While the protests have various causes, undoubtedly the practice of imposing and approving first and informing and dialoguing later is the most important," Carlos Tapia, a former Humala advisor, told La Primera.
"Outraged" citizens
"Outraged" university students and activists from leftist parties, unions, and youth groups took to the streets on July 27 to protest against Congress and legislative measures from the Humala administration. It was the third mass demonstration in less than 10 days in July.
On July 17 and 22, thousands of students and ordinary citizens held a protest against the deal negotiated by deputies from the governing Gana Peru and its allies, Fuerza Popular, Peru Posible, and Alianza por el Gran Cambio, who used their superior numbers to fill 10 vacancies in the Defensoria del Pueblo (1)...
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