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Pacheco’s Approval Drops
President Abel Pacheco de la
Espriella is losing public
backing in Costa Rica, according
to a poll by CID-Gallup.
34% of respondents rate the
president’s performance as good,
down six points since May.
Pacheco - of the Partido Unidad
Social Cristiana (PUSC) - was
elected in a run-off in April
2002 with 58% of the vote. Costa
Rican voters will choose
Pacheco’s successor in February
2006.
In May 2004, Costa Rica, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras
and Nicaragua agreed to the
Central American Free Trade
Agreement (CAFTA) - known
locally as the Tratado Libre de
Comerico (TLC) - with the
United States. The Dominican
Republic followed suit in
August. The agreement - which
would reduce or eliminate taxes
and tariffs on imports - still
has to be approved by each
country’s legislative branch.
Pacheco has postponed debate on
CAFTA until the Legislative
Assembly approves a series of
bills related to the country’s
fiscal system.
Last week, Pacheco began a
six-day visit to Taiwan. Costa
Rica is one of only 26 countries
that recognize Taiwan as a
sovereign state. Pacheco will
also hold preliminary talks to
explore a free trade deal with
Japan.
Polling Data
How would you rate the
performance of Abel Pacheco as
president of Costa Rica?
|
July 2005 |
May 2005 |
|
Good |
34% |
40% |
|
Average |
30% |
30% |
|
Bad |
35% |
26% |
Source: CID-Gallup
Methodology: Interviews to 1,230
Costa Rican adults, conducted
from Jul. 23 to Jul. 30, 2005.
Margin of error is 2.8%.
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