The answer to perhaps the most important question of all: “Are you happy?” Is a blunt “yes”, according to the latest CID-Gallup survey.
However, there is widespread concern about the performance of the public sector, at a time when thousands of public sector workers are in the midst of the longest strike in the country’s modern history.
A large majority of Costa Ricans responded negatively to the question: “When public employees are on strike, should they receive their salary for the time they do not fulfill their obligations?”. 63% said no (they should not get paid), while 31% responded in the affirmative.
Regarding the performance of the new administration, Carlos Alvarado has the worst perception among the presidents of the last 40 years. 40% of the respondents gave Alvarado “very bad/somewhat bad” and 24% “very good/somewhat good”.
Historically negative perception
The respondents to the survey evaluated the work of the presidents of the last 40 years as follows:
- Carlos Alvarado 2018 (the first four months): -16%
- Luis Guillermo Solís 2014 -2018: 25%
- Laura Chinchilla 2010 – 2014: 35%
- Oscar Arias 2006 – 2010: 38%
- Abel Pacheco 2002 – 2006: 38%
- Miguel Anger Rodríguez 1998 – 2002: 15%
- Jose Maria Figueres Olsen 1994 – 1998: 12%
- Rafel Angel Calderón 1990 – 1994: -2%
- Oscar Arias 1986 – 1990: 48%
- Luis Alberto Monge 1982 – 1986: 24%
- Rodrigo Carazo 1978 – 1982: 6%
Political Parties
The political parties are living a time of distrust, since the answer of half of the respondents to the question: “What is your favorite party?”, Is “None”.
- None 50%
- Liberación Nacional (PLN) 19%
- Acción Ciudadana (PAC) 15%
- Restauración Nacional (PRN) 7%
- Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC) 6%
- Frente Amplio (FA) 2%
Wrong direction
Questioned on the direction of the country, a large majority of the people – 78% felt the country is going in the wrong direction, in contrast to only 14% who feel it is going well.
Personal happiness
On the note of personal happiness, of those surveyed, 65% said they were very happy, 23% somewhat happy, 7% little happy, and 3% not happy.
The survey was held between September 3 to 13 among 1,214 adults countrywide.
Source (in Spanish): La Republica
