Living in Peru : your everyday companion

(LIP-ir) -- A poll conducted by CPI polling firm revealed that President Alan Garcia's disapproval rating had reached 64.7 percent while only 28.2 percent of the people polled supported the Andean nation's president.

Among the population's major complaints were the fact that Garcia's administration had not fulfilled the promises made while running for president and a recent increase in the prices of certain food products.

Another serious complaint, according to the polling firm, is how the government is handling the reconstruction of the areas affected by the August 15 earthquake.

Surveys showed that more than 60 percent of the people polled did no approve of how Peru's southern regions were being aided.

People do not feel that the country's economic situation has improved, said the director of CPI, Manuel Saavedra, attempting to explain other reasons why Alan Garcia was seen so badly among Peruvians.

When asked about Garcia's high disapproval rating, Cabinet Chief Jorge del Castillo affirmed that the government was not affected by poll results, stating that it was necessary to make unpopular decisions to help a country move forward.

CPI also revealed that the most popular presidential candidate for 2011 was Luis Castañeda Lossio, the mayor of Lima, who was supported by almost 27 percent of the people that were polled.

He was followed by Keiko Fujimori (13.8%), Ollanta Humala (13.7%), Lourdes Flores (12%) and Alejandro Toledo (6%).