Only 25 percent of respondents consider that the National Assembly must be controlled by Hugo Chávez

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According to 61 percent of respondents, Venezuelan outlook is grim. They consider, in general, that the country is heading for "the wrong way" and describe current situation as "bad or very bad."

This was the result of the socio-political monitoring poll conducted this year by marketing research firm Hinterlaces. The poll shows that only 37 percent of the Venezuelan population considers that the reality is completely different. "Things are heading in the right way" and the general situation of the country is "fair to good."

These figures are in line with other discouraging data for supporters of the ruling party: a large percentage of the population disagrees with several measures taken by the government in the last few months.

According to the report, 78 percent of respondents rejected that RCTV Internacional was forced off air from the cable system by a government decision, versus 18 percent of respondents that supported the measure.

According to the poll, 64 percent of respondents consider that the decision made by the government with regard to media threatens freedom of expression whereas 31 percent consider that it does not affect free press.

This could explain why 61 percent of respondents supported student protests which have urged the government to respect freedom of expression, to stop harassing media, and to take effective actions to improve public utilities such as water and electricity, which have been seriously affected by rationing.

The research shows that if parliamentary elections would take place next Sunday, 34 percent of Venezuelans would vote by independent candidates, 28 percent would vote by pro-Chávez candidates and 26 percent by opposition candidates.

Translated by Gerardo Cárdenas