Latin America Advisor

Kezia McKeague, regional director at McLarty Associates: “President Fernández’s approval ratings have continued to fall since a peak at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Recent polling reflects societal perceptions of a weak president unable to unify his fractious governing coalition or address Argentina’s persistently high inflation. According to a poll this month by Poliarquía, Fernández’s personal approval rating has declined to 28 percent, while his negative rating has risen to 46 percent—the worst levels since he took office. The disaffected vice president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, is also polling at historic lows. Despite minimal prospects for re-election, Fernández needs to say that he will be a candidate to stay relevant, while continuing to promise compliance with the International Monetary Fund agreement and improved economic growth. His principal challenges are twofold: the loss of purchasing power of Frente de Todos voters impacted by accelerating inflation and the coalition’s internal battles, which are worse than ever…”