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President
Ma’s Approval Rating: Nose Dive
A government poll, conducted by the
Cabinet-level Research, Development and Evaluation Commission, found that
48.2 percent of respondents approved of President Ma’s performance, while
34.5 percent were displeased.
The poll was conducted to evaluate his first-month performance. Ma assumed office May 20. Ma won the presidential election
with 58 percent of the March 22 vote.
Premier Liu Chao-shiuan received worse scores with 43 percent of
satisfaction and 38 percent dissatisfaction. However, a poll, conducted by the
opposition party DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) a week later, showed
that the Ma’s approval rating slipped more. The DPP announced the survey results
during a press conference on July 3.
The survey found that 53.5 percent of respondents were dissatisfied
with Ma and 39.3 percent were satisfied. According to DPP, Ma’s
satisfaction rating has dropped from a high of 71.3 percent in early April
when the DPP began conducting regular polls on his performance, while the
dissatisfaction rating has gradually risen during that period from a low of
22.5 percent. The poll also
indicated that the pan-blue supporters were gradually displeased with Ma’s
performance. The satisfaction
rating has slipped from a high of 78 percent to 63.1 percent. The DPP said that Premier Liu had
served as a “firewall” for Ma by absorbing most of the public’s resentment
for the last six weeks.
However, that firewall has disappeared. The public does not care
whether President Ma is in the first line or second line. Ma must stand in the front line and
solve the problems facing Taiwan.
Posted: July 5, 2008
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