For the first time since Javier Milei assumed as President, Unemployment became the main concern of the Argentines. According to the latest report on “Economic Expectation” carried out by the consulting firm Opina Argentina, it exceeds inflation, and represents a warning sign for the Government about a certain fatigue in the social mood regarding the general evolution of the economy.
According to the study, people’s fear of losing their job grew eight points in the last month and stands at 37%, well above inflation (29%) and corruption (22%). Beyond this information, There is an encouraging number for the Government when inquiring about the current personal economic situation: Between April and June, the percentage that says they cannot make ends meet fell from 40 to 29%.
This last point, which had been expanding from December to April, has stabilized in the last two months and only three out of 10 respondents believe that their economic situation will improve in the immediate future. Among libertarian voters, optimism reaches 60%.
Another topic analyzed is the movement of the dollar and, in line with the increases registered in parallel and stock currencies in the run-up to the vote on the Bases Law in the Senate, there is “a drastic increase in devaluation expectations, from 36 to 55%, a change in beliefs that contrasts with the trend of previous months.” Thus, the percentage of people who believe that the price will go down in the coming months fell from 10% to 7%, and also what they think will remain the same, which went from 45% to 31%.
On the other hand, regarding political responsibility for the current situation, the attribution of responsibilities to the Frente de Todos government gives three points, although it continues to be perceived as the most responsible for the current economic problems (52% versus 46% who mentioned the government of Javier Milei).
In another section, it was asked whether the effort made by society from the adjustment implemented by the libertarian government still makes sense: “The belief that the adjustment that society is making has a meaningful horizon deteriorates.. In May there was a positive differential of 7 points (it went from 46% to 50%); In June, a negative differential of one point was recorded (it went from 53% to 49%)”, was stated in the Opina Argentina survey.
The same consulting firm had presented another report last week, prior to the key vote in the Senate, and in the midst of the political turbulence that surrounded the national cabinet due to resignations and complaints within the Ministry of Human Capital. On that occasion, It was highlighted that six months after coming to power, the positive image of the President remains intact.
“Milei’s image has shown notable stability since the beginning of his mandate,” the report states, recalling that the same period of time in office Macri had already lost 9 pointsand Alberto Fernández had risen 17 pointsbut in the context of the beginning of the management of the pandemic, when all politics and society accompanied the Government’s measures.
In line with the presidential image, Support for the Government also remains stable around 46%, while 40% declared they were opponents and 14% did not choose either of these two options. In another passage of the survey, it is shown that the governor Axel Kicillof He is positioned as the opposition leader with the best social rating, with 41% positive image and 55% negative image.
