Opinion poll on Sánchez Cerén performance

A recent public opinion poll released by Francisco Gavidia University looks at the views of the Salvadoran public concerning the first year in office of Salvador Sánchez Cerén, and in particular the efforts to deal with crime in the country.

Sánchez Cerén received an approval rating of 5.5 on a scale of 1-10. In contrast, his predecessor Mauricio Funes had an approval rating of 6.78 after his first year in office.

Asked to characterize the government’s efforts combatting crime, 6.1% said they were very good, 20% said good, 42.5% called it “regular” 23.3% said bad, and 7.7% said very bad.

To combat crime, those polled seem to want tougher law enforcement measures. 18.2% want harsher laws, 12% want a greater number of police; 11.4% want more military patrols; only 8.5% want more sources of jobs as a way to combat crime, and just 7.9% were recommending programs for reinsertion of gang members or prevention.

The Salvadoran public is looking to the armed forces in this war against crime. 31.7% had great confidence in military patrols to combat violence, while only 17.3% felt that way about patrols by the civilian police. 46.8% believe that the creation by the current government of immediate reaction battalions would help reduce crime while only 11.9% criticized that initiative.

71.7% of those polled felt that president Sánchez Cerén was doing little or nothing to improve the economic situation in the country.

,The poll reflected the views of 1308 Salvadorans interviewed between May 27 and June 1.

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