Latin America | Chile | Corruption

No other Chilean president has had lower rating

Reducing the national hunger rate and opening three new public universities in the past few months hasn’t been enough to raise Chilean President Michelle Bachelet’s popularity from the nosedive it took earlier this year. Adimark, a private consulting firm, published its monthly presidential approval ratings report which says that less than 30 percent of citizens have faith in Bachelet. “After only 16 months in power, Bachelet has achieved the highest disapproval ratings ever registered in this series of presidential evaluations, established in 2006,” the report stated.

Latin America | Chile | Corruption

Three Issues Undermine Bachelet in Chile

Source: NACLA

It remains to be seen how President Michelle Bachelet will weather the current discontent with her presidency, and whether she can effectively deal with the corruption that threatens her ability to govern. Chile’s Socialist president, Michelle Bachelet, was once one of the most popular leaders in Latin America, but a year into her second term in office her popularity has plummeted. One cannot engage in political discussion anywhere in Chile without hearing strong criticism of her government. According to the Santiago-based Center for Public Studies (CEP), by late April just 29% of respond

Latin America | Chile | Corruption

Bachelet’s Popularity in the Toilet after Corruption Crisis

Source: PanAm Post

With corruption scandals dominating the news in Chile, President Michelle Bachelet’s approval ratings have sunk to a new low. The latest public-opinion poll released on Monday, June 1, by the consulting firm Cadem demonstrates the president’s popularity has dwindled to just 26 percent. The results represent a stark contrast to Bachelet’s approval rating of 52 percent when she took office in March 2014, then peaking at 56 percent a few months later. The president’s disapproval rating at the time was just 22 percent, but began climbing as the scandals piled on, reaching over 40 percent

Latin America | Chile | Corruption

Chile waits as Michelle Bachelet considers new cabinet after scandal

Source: theguardian

President’s approval ratings fell to 29% before she sacked her entire cabinet, in a move that may strengthen her authority as a no-nonsense leader After sacking her entire cabinet, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet kept the nation guessing on Friday as she considered a new lineup to steer the country out of one of the country’s most dramatic political crises since the 1973 military coup. Ensconcing herself in her hillside home in Santiago, the Socialist party leader has not yet uttered a word to the public about her intentions to deal with a series of corruption scandals that have

Latin America | Chile | Corruption

Chile Joins Other Latin American Nations Shaken by Scandal

Source: The New York Times

Best Quote: “It’s like we’ve realized this is a swamp, and everyone has one foot in the mud.” Pablo Collada, the director of Intelligent Citizen, an organization promoting transparency in politics. Scandals are shaking one government after another this year in Latin America: the mysterious death of a prosecutor in Argentina, the ouster of Peru’s prime minister over a domestic spying operation, the revelations of a vast bribery scheme at Brazil’s national oil company. Chile was long thought to be above such agitations, given its reputation as one of the region’s least corrupt

Latin America | Chile | Corruption

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Faces More Challenges in Second Year

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet starts her second year in office on Wednesday facing declining popularity, continuing resistance to her reform agenda, and more recently allegations of corruption within her family. Her approval rating has dropped to 31%, according to pollster Cadem. Pollster Adimark has her with 39% support, down from a high of 54% in March last year. Both firms say that recent revelations that a bank allegedly sped a loan to family members was a blow to her image. The Bachelet administration says that it plans to keep pushing through its agenda, including promoting f