Chávez numbers tank just when it matters the least
Quico says: Teodoro Petkoff spills the beans today on Chávez’s god-awful poll numbers these days. In the latest IVAD (Seijas) poll, Chávez gets whooped by two-to-one margins on all kinds of domestic issues (the electoral law, private property, whether he’s a threat to democracy) and by closer to three-to-one margins on most foreign policy questions (how he’s dealing with Colombia, with the US, etc.)
All this from a Seijas poll, mind you – we’re talking about the government’s in-house “serious” pollster, who’s had a pronounced pro-government lean in the past.
The August poll even has Chávez losing in the generic “would you vote for Chávez or for another candidate?” question, which – forget about 50% – now puts Chávez below 40%.
Read all about it here
What’s ironic is that all this happens as Venezuela enters a period when poll numbers really don’t matter any more. Back in the “hybrid regime” days, when our authoritarianism was at least competitive, these poll numbers would’ve been a real problem for the government.
These days? Hell, the guy just got through telling us how Gaddafi is to Libya as Bolívar was to Venezuela! He’s well past caring.
Caracas Chronicles is 100% reader-supported.
We’ve been able to hang on for 22 years in one of the craziest media landscapes in the world. We’ve seen different media outlets in Venezuela (and abroad) closing shop, something we’re looking to avoid at all costs. Your collaboration goes a long way in helping us weather the storm.
Donate