62% of Nicaraguans consider that the country is “going down the wrong path” under the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murilloaccording to the results of the most recent survey of the Costa Rican firm CID Gallup, carried out in the first two weeks of January 2023.
To the question, “In your opinion, when you take into account everything that is happening in Nicaragua, how do you think the country is doing?, only 32% of those surveyed consider that Nicaragua “is on the right path.” While 6% of those consulted did not want or could not answer the question.
According to the data from the same CID Gallup, these results are similar to the study carried out in January 2022, when 62% of citizens also responded that Nicaragua was headed in the wrong direction, and 33% said the opposite.
“The gap between those who indicate that the country is heading in the wrong direction and those who consider the opposite, who still remain in the minority, is narrowing. This dissatisfied group is dispersed throughout the national territory, in the 25 to 39-year-old cohort, who live in a worse economic situation than the previous year and among those who do not have a party preference or do not follow the Sandinista National Liberation Front.” He cites the analysis of the specialized firm.
“The government of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo continues with an evaluation that is more negative than positive, reaching citizens of all strata of residence, age, or education. The ‘commander’ is increasingly evaluated worse”, highlights the study.
The survey, with a margin of error of +/- 2.78 points, was carried out between January 3 and 16, 2023. 1,204 interviews were conducted via mobile phone, between 8:30 am. and 8:00 p.m.
Disapproval of Daniel Ortega’s management worsens
To the question, “What is your opinion of the way in which Daniel Ortega carries out his duties as president? Do you approve or disapprove of the presidency of Daniel Ortega? 55% of Nicaraguans rate their management as “bad or very bad”, while only 35% classify it as “good or very good”.
The CID Gallup analysis establishes that these results leave the Ortega administration with an unfavorable balance of -20 in the opinion of Nicaraguans.
“The evaluation of the work of the president ortega reflects a negative balance. Ortega’s position among his fellow citizens is homogeneous and it is in Managua, where there is some difference between the strata, depending on his economic situation. Those who are going through financial difficulties tend to be more critical than those with more financial capabilities”, underlines the specialized firm.
“As of the year 2018, Daniel Ortega begins a decline in the assessment given by his compatriots for the way he performs at the helm of the Executive Power and on this occasion, he remains in the red, “he adds.
The study collects the results on this question from January 2013, when the dictator reached a positive balance of 49%, until this survey of January 2023. The peak reached by Ortega was in 2017, when he registered an approval rating of 71%. However, after the massacre of the protests female citizens of April 2018 and the imposition of the police state, the dictator has collapsed in the confidence of Nicaraguans regarding his management of the Government.
“Ortega has a negative balance and is the worst evaluated (…) It is possible that the measures he has taken against some political and student leaders are affecting his projection before the population, as well as the economic problems that the family is going through” , notes the CID Gallup analysis.
Concern over bad relationship with the US, reflects CID Gallup
The pollster highlights some of the responses from those consulted regarding the way in which the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship manages relations with the United States, Nicaragua’s main trading partner.
To the question: “On a general level, how do you rate the president’s work in the following areas: would you say very good, good, bad or very bad?”, In the item referring to relations with the United States, the expressions of those consulted oscillated between “neither good nor bad”, “there are many political problems in our country and there are many Nicaraguans who leave in search of employment and out of fear” , “the United States has sanctioned the president and his family”, “I think he had an account in the United States and they confiscated it”.
“Within this environment, there is an issue that attracts attention and to some extent generates some concern and that is the bad relations with the United States. On the one hand, there is satisfaction with the measures that have been taken by the Government of the United States and on the other they feel that, at this moment, President Ortega owns the main assets of the country and has everything in his hands. This position gives power and access to the majority of the population”, highlights the Costa Rican firm.
Corruption rebounds as one of the main concerns
To the question, “What do you consider to be the main problem of our country?”the lack of employment was ranked first, with 26% according to those consulted, followed by corruption (22%), the high cost of living (19%), citizen insecurity (7%) and the covid-19 pandemic, with 4%.
“The absence of sources of employment that are capable of satisfying the needs of the economically productive population is the main problem facing the country. This position is widespread throughout the national territory, and especially in the age group of 16 to 24 years old”, stresses CID Gallup.
“The alleged corruption in the Government is a problem that is located in second place. This is cited more by men, informants with primary studies and those without party affiliation. This corruption supposedly manifests itself more when State institutions are used and paid to speed up a process; the bites to institutional representatives when some management is needed in them ”, details the firm.
Respondents highlight gloomy economic outlook
The survey also shows that 62% of those consulted responded that the economic situation Nicaragua is “worse or much worse” compared to January 2022. Only 30% say that it is “better or much better”, while 8% say that “it is the same”.
To the question, “Compared to four months ago: How do you think the cost of living is?68% of citizens stated that the “cost of living has risen a lot or something”.
“The country’s economy is in crisis. Unemployment deprives them of having money for basic expenses, foods that are part of the daily diet are already prohibitively expensive. During the year 2022, in general the population of interest in this study was negative. He glimpsed the economic future of the country worse than the previous year; In the first month of 2023, the situation is stagnant and remains with little optimism that they will be better in the future,” the study cites.
The bad image of the Ortega-Murillo, and Reyna Rueda collapses
Those consulted by the specialized firm were also asked what their opinion was about certain public figures, and if they had a favorable or unfavorable opinion about each one.
Ortega presents an unfavorable opinion of 49%, with a favorable opinion of 35%, resulting in a negative index of -14.
Vice President Rosario Murillo registered an unfavorable opinion of 46%, and a positive opinion of 34%, for a negative index of -12.
The study highlights the collapse in the perception of the mayor appointed for Managua in the electoral farce of November 2022, Queen Ruedathe Sandinista figure who has registered the best results in previous studies.
Rueda obtained in this study in January 27% favorable opinion, and an unfavorable opinion of 19%, to achieve a positive index of +8. However, in the survey carried out by CID Gallup in September 2022, Rueda managed to obtain a 51% favorable opinion, drawing attention due to his open fidelity to the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship.
The terrible crisis of political parties
CID Gallup also emphasizes the severe crisis of the political parties in Nicaragua. To the question, “What is your favorite political party?, 70% of those consulted answered that none, 22% said that the Sandinista Front, 2% Citizens for Freedom and 2% were in favor of the Independent Liberal Party. Various political organizations were grouped into a 4%.
“The generality is the absence of a preferred political party, which is common in non-electoral times, when there is apathy or as some (respondents) indicate: ‘there is resignation’, ‘it does not matter which political party you have’, ‘they do what they want, why think about politics’, ‘I don’t care what happens now’, “in any case, they are all the same”, ‘for safety’s sake, it’s better not to talk about politics’, ‘I’m afraid to speak later of what happened after the roadblocks of the university students”, were some of the responses of those surveyed, the study reports.
