Confidence in Silvio Berlusconi, who is the subject of several lawsuits and is no longer as strong internationally, has reached the lowest level so far, 31 percent, according to a survey released Monday by the IPR Institute.
In April, 31 percent of Italians said they have “very much” or “enough” confidence in the prime minister, compared with 33 percent in March and 40 percent in December, while the percentage who have “little” or “no” trust has gone to 58 percent from 55 percent in March, according to a survey conducted on April 14-16, on a sample of 1,000 people for the daily newspaper “La Repubblica”.
“The poll in April is showing a scenario in which the Government and parties that support him (…) seem to be under pressure due to circumstances in the center of political battle in recent weeks, such as (situation in) Libya or the Tunisian refugee management”, writes the institute, which is carrying out these surveys every month since Berlusconi returned to power in April 2008.
Berlusconi is also affected by three lawsuits, one for sexual relations with a minor, while Italy is struggling to make their voices heard in the European Union, both in terms of conflict in Libya and immigration.
“Basically, it is a steady decline (in polls) of the Prime Minister for more than two years. The drop is 9 percentage points compared with the situation at the beginning of the year, 17 points compared with January 2010 and 25 points compared with January 2009. He lost exactly half of the number of people that gave him confidence when he reached the highest level in polls with 62 percent in October 2008”, the institute continues.
Government recorded its worst result, with only 23 percent of satisfied people, down three percentage points compared with last month, while the percentage reaches 62 percent of dissatisfied people, up two points from March.
The institute reveals that, “for the first time”, the left outperforms, “very easy”, the right, in voting intentions.
“A hypothetical coalition” of left-wing political parties “would get 41.5 percent, up 0.3 points from March, while the right drops to 41 percent, losing 1.2 points in a month”, the report continues.
“These movements are not very significant in terms of numbers, but express a sense of the electorate, which is certainly not favorable to the ruling parties, the institute concludes.