Latam Pulse: Machado's popularity hits 72%, Rodríguez's approval drops to 64.5%

Opposition leader María Corina Machado's popularity has surged to 72% in July, a significant increase from 53% in June, according to a Latam Pulse survey conducted by AtlasIntel and Bloomberg. This rise contrasts sharply with the declining approval of Delcy Rodríguez, whose government's disapproval rating stands at 64.5%.

The survey highlights a sustained erosion of confidence in Rodríguez's administration, particularly as Venezuela grapples with limited economic recovery prospects. In contrast, opposition figures like Machado and Edmundo González are gaining traction. Rodríguez's disapproval rating has climbed from 63.3% in June, with a 42.5 percentage point gap between those who approve and disapprove of her governance.

Demographic analysis reveals that younger individuals and those with higher education levels are more critical of Rodríguez's performance. While the 18-24 age group shows some support (49.9%), those over 65 overwhelmingly reject her leadership (88.6%). Similarly, 89.4% of respondents with higher education expressed dissatisfaction.

Machado's favorable image has also improved, with her negative perception dropping from 28% to 14%. Edmundo González also saw a significant boost, increasing from 43% to 61%. Conversely, Rodríguez's positive image has declined to 19%, while her negative perception has soared to 71%.

In a hypothetical presidential election scenario, Machado garners 57.4% of voter intention, far surpassing Rodríguez's 17.7%. The survey also explored Machado's potential return to Venezuela, with 50.8% of respondents believing she should return, while 22.4% condition her return on safety guarantees.