President Javier Milei experienced a decline in his approval rating, which fell by seven points from February to March. This shift can be attributed to the political repercussions stemming from scandals involving Chief of Staff Manuel Adorni and other government officials, alongside an increase in economic pessimism. A survey reveals that in the past month, nearly sixty percent of Argentines have assessed the country’s situation as unfavorable. The poll indicated a decline in the president’s positive image, which fell from 47% in February to 40.3% in March. Concurrently, his negative image increased to 51%, surpassing the previous month by five points.
The decline indicates that President Milei has lost his status as the most favored figure within the ruling La Libertad Avanza party. Former Security Minister Patricia Bullrich, who is presently a senator, has surpassed the head of state in favorable ratings, boasting a 42.7% positive image alongside a 50.3% unfavorable perception, as reported. The decline in the President’s approval rating aligns with a trend observed by most pollsters, attributable to a dual setback: firstly, the economy has yet to recover, and secondly, the emergence of alleged corruption cases associated with cryptocurrency and accusations against Adorni regarding unjustified wealth accumulation and the questionable acquisition of properties.
Nonetheless, a recent survey indicates that Milei’s downturn is not mirrored in the electoral landscape. A survey released in March indicates that the president would secure a substantial 20-point lead if elections were conducted today. One of the most critical data points for the Casa Rosada (the Argentine presidential palace) from the Zentrix survey was the perception of the economic landscape: 59.7% of Argentines assessed the country’s economic situation unfavorably in March, marking an increase of nearly 13 points from 47% in February.
This figure underscores a trend of heightened social discontent associated with financial difficulties, as wages fall beneath inflation while unemployment rates and family debt continue to rise. The survey indicated a decrease in the general assessment of the Milei administration. The government’s approval rating has decreased to 38.5%, whereas disapproval has increased to 53%. A month prior, the figures stood at 45% positive and 44% negative, indicating that March represented a notable shift towards a distinctly unfavorable balance for the ruling party.