Brazil & Southern Cone - January 2011 (ISSN 1741-4431)

What makes Piñera's problems in the opinion polls so odd is that the economy is doing pretty well. Growth is on course to hit 6% (in both 2010 and 2011); inflation is low and on target; and jobs are being created. Some local economists forecast that the economy will create far more than the 1m new jobs that Piñera promised. To some extent, Piñera's problems are largely PR ones. He has failed to anticipate and defuse protests before they spun into something noticeable. He has also been perceived to be casual about separating his business interests from  politics. He was slow to sell his shareholding both in the (effectively national) airline LanChile and  his (national) TV station, Chilevisión. His interest in a leading soccer club, Colo Colo, is widely believed to have sparked a row at the top of the national football association that led to the resignation (and then reinstatement) of the national coach, Marcelo Bielsa.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 157 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options

• Subscribe
• Sign up for a one-time, 14-day trial