More than a third of Dominicans (38%) expect their economic situation, as well as their family’s, to be better in 2006, whereas 33% believe it will be worse and 17% say it will remain the same, according to the Listin-Hamilton poll published by Listin Diario yesterday. When asked about 2007, 42% believe they will be better off, 36% think it will be worse, 17% say it will be the same, and 11% said they did not know. The poll shows no difference of opinion between men and women though there are variations based on age, region, and party sympathy.
Diario Libre reports that President Leonel Fernandez reacted by saying that 56% of the population understands that things are better now, pointing out that 42% said things are not good and 2% do not know, thus 56% believes things are better. Fernandez said that the poll places the population’s perception in good perspective regarding what the government is doing.