Reforma Poll Finds President Pena Nieto's Approval Falls to 12% After Gasoline Soars Eric Martin - Bloomberg
go to original January 18, 2017

The "gasolinazo" has been criticized by governors from Pena Nieto’s own ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (NBC News)

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto’s approval rating plunged to a record low after the government’s decision to raise gasoline prices by the most in two decades prompted looting of department stores and near-daily public protests in the nation’s biggest cities.

Just 12 percent of those polled approved of Pena Nieto’s performance, the lowest level for any president in at least two decades and down from 24 percent in December, according to the survey by Mexico City newspaper Reforma.



The government raised unleaded gasoline prices 14 percent on Jan. 1, the most since 1998, with premium prices soaring 20 percent. The "gasolinazo," or fuel price shock, has been criticized by governors from Pena Nieto’s own ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, as well as its rivals. The Reforma poll shows 27 percent of voters favor the Morena party of populist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in next year’s presidential election, compared with 24 percent for the conservative National Action Party and 17 percent for the PRI.

Eighty-two percent of those surveyed had an unfavorable view with of Pena Nieto’s handling of Latin America’s second-largest economy. His popularity is beneath the lowest levels reached by Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff, who bottomed out at 15 percent in polls before her impeachment.

Read the rest at Bloomberg

Related: Mexico Government Gas Price-Hike Crisis Causes PRI's Political Future to Go Over the Cliff (Mexico Voices)

Related: In Mexico, Gas Is Fueling the Flames of Revolt (The Conversation)

Related: Gasolinazo: Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto's Latest Neoliberal Reforms Have Provoked a Fresh Crisis (teleSUR)

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