The urban approval rating of Colombia president Juan Manuel Santos has plummeted to 13%, an unprecedented low for the president who started his presidency in 2010 with an approval rating above 75%.
In the latest poll published by pollster YanHaas, which has intensely measured the president’s approval rating since the beginning of the year, Santos’ popular approval among urban dwellers dropped from 31% in mid December — the highest score since May last year — to 13% last week when the last poll was held.
YanHaas’ perceived drop in Santos’ popularity confirms results from other polls in which the president proves increasingly less popular than any of his four predecessors have ever been.
Santos’ approval rating since taking office
The president is even less popular among Colombians between 18 and 24. According to the poll, only 9% of young Colombians approve of their president, while 66% disapproves of him.
YanHaas indicated that a major reason for the president’s lack of approval is the country’s economy. More than half of the respondents said that the economic situation of consumers is either bad or very bad. Nine percent said the economic situation for consumers is either good or very good.
Only 8% of Colombians believe their country’s economic situation is improving against 39% who claimed the situation is worsening and 52% claiming the economy is stable.
In general terms, 77% of Colombians believe their country is getting worse against 19% who are more optimistic about the future of Colombia.
Another thorny issue that drags down the president’s popularity is the ongoing peace talks with extreme-left FARC rebels. The peace process started by Santos in 2012 can only count on the support of 21% of the population. The vast majority, 65%, disapproves how the government is handling the process.