Chile: President Boric at rock bottom of popularity

A publicly-anticipated poll by Plaza Pública Cadem this week showed that opposition to President Gabriel Boric rose nine points to seventy percent. In the December 30 issue, the figure had fallen from 66% to 61%, but now Boric’s rejection in January has risen nine points to 70%, the highest level so far this parliamentary term. Its approval rating has fallen three points since the last poll and now stands at 27%.

According to the same poll, 64% of respondents disagreed with the head of state’s decision to pardon 12 people convicted during the social unrest – a decision that sparked a political crisis with the resignation of the justice minister from the cabinet.

It also reveals that 74% of respondents oppose the pardon of Jorge Mateluna, the most controversial of those who benefited from Gabriel Boric’s decision, given that he is a former member of the Manuel Rodríguez Patriotic Front (FPMR), the armed wing opposition to the regime of dictator Augusto Pinochet.

In the detailed analysis, the political scientist and academic at the University of Talca, Mauricio Morales, went into the results of the survey in the Chilean media, which show the greatest rejection of the government of President Gabriel Boric.

“Governing with Fear” was his headline. According to Morales, “In the first half of 2022, the government raised expectations and hopes for the constitutional process, while the second half was marked by frustration: rejection won easily, the country plunged into a deep economic crisis, crime is leading the fight. There is a dangerous lack of migration control and tensions between the authorities are evident, particularly over the appointment of the new prosecutor,” he warns.

The ambiguity of Boric’s decisions makes no one happy.

“The government knows it has less popular support and fears there will be social pressure to approve some of these projects. Second, the government has already bowed its head before the Supreme Court. Apparently fearing a confrontation between the authorities, he backed down and nominated Ángel Valencia as candidate for the post of prosecutor, despite the displeasure of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality. Third, the administration fears Congress, which poses a constant threat of paralyzing legislation and a never-ending source of constitutional accusations. Former Justice Minister Marcela Ríos and Social Development Minister Giorgio Jackson are already in the crosshairs,” he affirms.

With information from latinapress