Recent polls reveal an increase in disapproval ratings for Chilean President Gabriel Boric by late February.
This rise highlights the hurdles his government faces as it aims to advance key reforms.
Now, 66% of voters express dissatisfaction with Boric’s leadership, a peak not seen since September.
This figure is up from 61% just a week earlier, according to a Cadem poll. Another survey by Pulso Ciudadano echoes this sentiment, placing disapproval at 62.2%.
This period is crucial for Boric as he seeks to negotiate with lawmakers over important plans to improve pensions and tax income.
Issues such as crime, illegal immigration, and corruption have troubled Boric’s term.
Additionally, there’s little time to win support and pass laws before local elections in October change the political landscape.
In January, Chile‘s lower house approved the basic framework of pension reform but turned down several critical sections.
This decision paves the way for intense Senate discussions in March. Boric’s team is also trying to get backing for a tax evasion countermeasure to boost government revenue.
Two years into his presidency, Boric’s disapproval rates are not as high as those of former President Sebastián Piñera at a similar stage.
They align closely with Michelle Bachelet’s ratings before her term’s halfway point.
The Cadem poll reached 704 people between February 28 and March 1, with a 3.7 percentage point margin of error.
Pulso Ciudadano’s survey involved 1,213 respondents on February 28 and 29, with a 2.8 percentage point margin of error.
This growing disapproval underscores the connection between public sentiment and the challenges of implementing reforms.