Presidential Approval in a Context of Political and Institutional Change: The Uruguayan Case

Abstract

Do Uruguayan evaluate their presidents according to the cyclical model of approval typical of presidential systems with fixed terms of office? The cyclical model of approval implies that terms of office begin with a “honeymoon” with high levels of approval, then decrease and recover again at the end of the period. In Uruguay, this pattern is found only in the last four governments, but not before periods. How can the changes in the presidential approval dynamics be explained? The article states that this is the result of the changes of electoral rules. Using data from the Executive Approval Project, the temporal analysis reveals that, under the new institutional contexts, popular support for the president grows, increasing the “clarity of responsibility” that allows citizens to evaluate their presidents according to the outcome of economic policies and the electoral cycle. In short, by analyzing the Uruguayan case, this article attempts to provide evidence regarding the importance of institutional design in the approval of the presidential administration.