Venezuelan President's Approval Ratings Hit Nine-Month Low

A Datanalisis poll showed that more than three-quarters of those surveyed disapproved of Maduro's tenure while 22.1% thought that he should finish his term.

Corina Pons

A Datanalisis poll showed that more than three-quarters of those surveyed disapproved of Maduro's tenure while 22.1% thought that he should finish his term.

venezuelan president s approval ratings hit nine month low

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a meeting with ministers at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela August 12, 2016. Credit: Miraflores Palace/Handout via Reuters

Caracas: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's approval rating fell to a nine-month low of 21.2% in July amid calls from government critics for a recall referendum next year, according to a local pollster Datanalisis.

The poll of 1000 people, conducted on July 13-21, also showed more than three-quarters of those surveyed disapproved of Maduro's tenure, while 93.6% saw the country's situation negatively. Only 22.1% believed that Maduro should finish his term.

Maduro's three-year tenure has been marked by a severe deterioration in the country's economy, with daily looting and food riots due to shortages of the most basic goods. Triple-digit inflation, a collapse of the local currency on the black market and severe recession have added to the country's woes.

The 53-year-old president blames the country's crisis on an economic war waged by the opposition and Washington. On Friday, Maduro raised the country's minimum wage 50%, making it equal to $23 a month at the black market exchange rate.

Thousands of Venezuelans streamed across the border with Colombia on the weekend to buy food and other basics as the two countries' borders were officially reopened after being closed by Venezuela a year ago.

The timing of the referendum over the president is critical because recalling Maduro in 2016 will trigger fresh elections, while a successful vote to remove him after January 10, 2017 would mean the vice president would takeover as head of state for the remainder of the current term through early 2019.

Maduro's approval ratings hit their nadir in October at 21.1%, though they rose to 33.1% in February, according to Datanalisis figures.

The poll had a margin of error of 3.04%.

(Reuters)

This article went live on August sixteenth, two thousand sixteen, at sixteen minutes past three in the afternoon.

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