Chilean President Gabriel Boric is encountering growing discontent among voters, with recent polls indicating a rise in his disapproval ratings. The latest surveys, conducted by Cadem and Pulso Ciudadano, show that approximately 66% and 62.2% of voters, respectively, are dissatisfied with Boric's performance. These figures mark a significant increase from previous months and pose a challenge for his administration as it gears up to push through key reforms.
Amidst rising concerns over issues such as crime, clandestine migration, and corruption, President Boric's popularity has taken a hit. With the government set to engage in new negotiations with lawmakers on crucial proposals like pension increases and tax reforms, the timing couldn't be more critical. The lower house of Congress recently approved the base text of the pension reform, but the rejection of key articles has set the stage for a contentious debate in the Senate in the coming month.
As Boric grapples with waning support in the second year of his presidency, comparisons to past leaders like Sebastian Pinera and Michelle Bachelet are being drawn. Despite his current disapproval levels, they are noted to be lower than Pinera's at a similar stage in his second administration and on par with Bachelet's ratings before the halfway mark of her second term.
The Cadem poll surveyed 704 individuals between February 28 and March 1, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. On the other hand, Pulso Ciudadano's survey of 1,213 people from February 28-29 had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points. As Boric's administration faces a critical period ahead, navigating through the challenges presented by public opinion will be instrumental in determining the success of his reform agenda.