Martinelli rating plunges in crucial areas – poll

AS PRESIDENT Ricardo Martinelli’s term in office nears its end his acceptance rate in spite of government proselytizing recorded its biggest drop in eight months  according to a 'Panama Review' , Ipsos poll.

Since July 2013 , the percentage of the president's performance had been maintained at 38 % acceptance that reached its highest point, 51 % in January .

Then, reports Estrella a Fbruary 14 survey
Suddenly, on the results of the survey of 14 February, showed an big dip in the interior of the country . In Cocle, Herrera, Los Santos and Veraguas rates fell 11points.( 47 % down to 36 %). In Chiriqui , Bocas del Toro and Ngäbe Bugle , the fall was 10 points , 51 % went to 41 %. Only the capital held the same percentage asthe previous month, 51 %.
Political analyst Jose Blandon considers it “a statistically significant drop”
Blandon warns that these indices represent a red light for the campaign of Jose Domingo Arias” because one of the strengths of the official campaign has been because the good rating that has been given the electorate of the Martinelli government, backed by massive promotional expenditure.
The evolution of the perception of the performance of the chief executive can be linked to the distribution of presidential vote.
Blandon recalled that the Panamanian electoral history in the provinces of Herrera and Los Santos were defining for the presidential vote. These regions generally inclined towards the ruling party, but judging by the results of Ipsos that today, could be another reality.
The low score that marked the administration of President Martinelli in the provinces of Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro and Ngäbe Bugle has been interpreted by leaders as a sign of rejection of the government The shocks that were experienced in 2010, 2011 and 2012 ”The people will not forget,” said Edgardo Voitier.

“No one will forget the crisis in Bocas del Toro that was generated by the protests ‘against the so-called ‘sausage law’ , which left more than a dozen blind and maimed for life and others killed."
The tragic panorama of Bocas del Toro was repeated protests by indigenous ngäbe Bugle in 2011, in protest over mining projects and later in 2012, when it erupted in Chiriqui because the construction of Barro Blanco hydroelectric project . In this episode, the balance was two dead and hundreds injured reports La Estrella
Currently,Ngable Buglés are on alert and remain on the banks of the Tabasará River in protest because the government wants to evict some families to continue the work of Barro Blanco Hydroelectric Generator Building Isthmus , SA
In addition to these social conflicts, the fall of President Martinelli performance is also linked to more everyday factors among Panamanians.
For example, 85% of those surveyed by Ipsos believe that the cost of basic food basket remains one of the most serious problems of the country which Martinelli had promised to bring down.
Since September the government has not released figures on the cost of the basket.