Approval Rating of Colombian President Duque Plummets Just Months After Taking Office

Colombian President Iván Duque did not enter office with an overwhelming mandate, but he comfortably beat leftist challenger Gustavo Petro in June’s run-off election. But now, after barely four months in office, his popularity has plummeted.

The latest polling results, released late last week by Invamer, showed that the rightwing head of state has seen his approval rating crater to just 27% — down 20 points from the 47% approval rating he garnered in the previous poll toward the end of October.

Photo: Iván Duque Márquez, president of Colombia, briefs reporters during the U.N. General Assembly. (Photo credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe)

No one specific event can be blamed for the drop, but more damning revelations have surfaced about the attorney general’s links to the massive Odebrecht bribery scandal, protests have erupted calling for more public support for education, and a poorly received tax reform proposal was recently released by the president.

Beyond the dramatic fall seen by Duque, nearly three-fourths (73%) of Colombians said they feel that things are going poorly in the country right now.

The results are based by nationwide polling conducted by the Medellin-based research firm from November 9-12 and come with a 3.09% margin or error. Blu Radio, Caracol News, and Semana magazine financed the survey.