The Honeymoon's Over for Ortega, But the Marriage Goes On

President Daniel Ortega's approval rating has dropped dramatically in the past few months, a new poll reveals, an apparent reflection that the bitter political battles over his style of governing are taking their toll.

The latest survey by CID-Gallup, which polled 1,258 Nicaraguans in early June, found that only 26% agreed Ortega was doing a good or very good job, compared to 36% who said he was doing a bad or very bad job as president.

This is a sharp drop from the 61% approval rating that Ortega received last February, soon after he returned to power.

Ortega has been consistently ranked as among the most divisive figures in Nicaragua. The traditional honeymoon period that greets most presidents was short lived for Ortega, as many quickly complained that the Sandinista leader's "authoritarian tendencies" were little different from when he governed Nicaragua during the 1980s.

The latest poll also reflects a growing frustration that the administration is not doing enough to end poverty. In the latest survey, 57% said that Ortega has not lived up to his campaign promises to help the poor, while 41% said there are fewer job opportunities than before.

Yet the poll results are open to interpretation. Nearly 38% of respondents rated Ortega's performance as "average," in addition to the 26% that rated him as good or very good. The resulting 64% indicates that, while the post-election enthusiasm may have waned, more people still approve of the president than disapprove. Also, about half said they are "optimistic" about the direction of the country.

"People haven't given up on the government and they are not rejecting the government or the Sandinistas outright," the CID-Gallup director, Fred Denton, told the Nica Times, an English-language newspaper covering Nicaragua.

Your Latin America Insider,

Suzan Haskins
for International Living

P.S. The honeymoon may be over for Nicaragua's president, but we're still in love with it. Great beaches, a low cost of living, and plenty to do are just some of the reasons why. If you've ever thought Nicaragua could be your slice of paradise, join us there for the Live and Prosper in Nicaragua Seminar August 20-22 to learn all about it.