Despite Critics, Approval for LatAm Leaders Remains Among the Highest

As humans, we tend to surround ourselves with people who share our values and opinions. That can be helpful if we want to build a community that’s growing in the same direction as us and fosters an environment of positivity. However, a tendency to only interact with people that share our political beliefs, class, race, or background can prevent us from developing critical thinking, understanding, and empathy for all humans.

Here's an experiment we suggest you try: ask ten of your closest friends, colleagues, or family members to answer whether they support your current president. If all ten say that they don't approve of Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) or Jair Bolsonaro, that might signal that you lack more diverse perspectives in your life.

Let's examine AMLO’s popularity. In his first few months in office, the president held a “referendum” and canceled the construction of a new airport in Mexico City. Even though it was never built, the enormous project still cost the country $5.7B, largely due to contract cancellation clauses. Many vocal opponents continue to criticize the move to this day. Right around the time of the cancellation, though, AMLO had an 81% approval rating — a higher number than any of his four predecessors ever had.

Whether one agrees with the cancellation and supports AMLO or not, the reality is that some irregularities prompted many in the country to support the cancellation. There were reports of environmental concerns, “land-grabbing,” and corruption.

His numbers have decreased significantly since then to the 60% range. However, he remains one of the most popular leaders worldwide and in recent Mexican history, even if your mom, dad, or neighbor dislike him.