Adimark: Bachelet's popularity hit a low point in August

To see international photos, click here

SANTIAGO.- For the first time this year, the approval rating for the administration of President Michelle Bachelet is lower than her disapproval rating, according to the results of the latest Adimark poll for August.

The survey registered a decline in the approval rating for the Head of State, from 44.6% in July to 42.1% in August, while the percentage who disapproves of her administration increased from 41.1% to 46.1%.

The specific categories of government administration remained stable with the same ratings as the previous month, but have generally registered a downward trend since the beginning of 2008.

The Transantiago remains in last place as the most poorly evaluated government program, with a meager 10.9% rating of approval and a more than 80% rating of disapproval.

Delinquency (17%) and corruption (15%) are other unfavorably evaluated categories, but they do not surpass the Transantiago in unpopularity, as the transportation system has clearly become the greatest challenge facing this administration.

With respect to the personal attributes of President Bachelet, she maintains a high rating in the area of being "loved by the Chilean people" (73%), but the perception of her "leadership" has declined to 44%, her lowest rating in this category to date.