Illness boosts Chávez's popularity.
According to a poll, 56% of Venezuelans would vote for the president if the election were held now; 55% consider his government good or excellent.
247 - New research from the GIS 21 institute shows a seven-point increase in Hugo Chávez's popularity compared to last month. The survey involved 2,5 interviews conducted between June 27th and July 3rd, with a margin of error of 2 points. On June 30th, Chávez revealed that he was receiving cancer treatment and had undergone surgery in Havana ten days earlier to remove a tumor. During the nearly 30 days he remained in Cuba convalescing, the Venezuelan president remained in power and did not transfer the office to his vice president at any time, as demanded by the opposition.
Other survey data reveals that 65% of Venezuelans agree that Chávez is ill and therefore needs the "trust and support" of the people. There are also 20% of respondents who believe that the president "is not ill" and that everything is "an excuse to increase popularity." In evaluating the government, the institute shows that 55% of respondents think Chávez's administration is good or very good. And 56% say they would vote to re-elect the leftist president if the elections were held now. In the GIS 21 survey's history, Chávez's popularity reached its lowest level in February 2010, at the height of the electricity crisis: 37% combining good and very good ratings.