Egyptians have continued to show dissatisfaction with President Mohamed Morsy's job approval rating, which has hit a record low, with only 47 percent of Egyptians saying they think he has performed well, the latest public opinion poll conducted by The Egyptian Center for Public Opinion Research (Baseera) has revealed This approval rating is less than the percentage Morsy earned at the end of his first eight months in office, during which he was seen by 49 percent of the population as performing well, and much far behind the percentage he earned after the first hundred days, after which 78 percent of respondents said they approved of his performance. According to the periodic poll by Baseera, which comes nine months after Morsy was sworn into office, the percentage of those disapprove of his performance rose to 45 percent, compared with 43 percent at the end of his first eight months in office, and only 15 percent after his first hundred days in office. Around 8 percent of respondents were unable to judge the president's performance. The poll, which was conducted in late March, shows that Morsy's job approval rating declines significantly among respondents with a university degree or post-graduate degree, of whom 39 percent see his performance as positive, compared with 51 percent among respondents with an education level lower than high school. The percentage of respondents who would vote for Morsy if presidential elections would be held tomorrow reached 37 percent, compared with 35 percent at the end of his eighth month in office, and 58 percent after the first hundred days. In response to a question asked to those who would not elect Morsy about whom they would prefer to elect instead, two-thirds of respondents were unable to name a person for president. Four percent of the respondents said that none of the current figures in the political scene are suitable for the presidential post. Eight percent of the respondents favored Ahmed Shafik, the former presidential candidate and the ousted president's last prime minister. Three percent of the respondents choose Hamdeen Sabahi, the dark horse in the last presidential race. Also, three percent said that they favored a military man whether he was General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the country's defense minister, or any person from the army. Two percent said that they favor Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh, the moderate Islamist and the former presidential candidate. As for Amr Moussa, former Egyptian presidential candidate, and Mohamed ElBaradei, prominent opposition leader, they were favored by only 1 percent of respondents. Moreover, 1 percent of the respondents say that they want the former president Hosni Mubarak to return again. Many respondents have mentioned other names that are suitable, in their point of view, to be president, but none of these names managed to win over more than 1 percent of the respondents. According to the poll, a third of Egyptians have never heard of the National Salvation Front (NSF), the country's main opposition coalition. This percentage was almost the same in last month's opinion poll. In response to a question asked to those who heard about the NSF, whether they support it or not, only 30 percent said they support it, compared with 35 percent in last month's poll. Respondents who don't support the NSF increased to 60 percent, compared with 53 percent in last month's poll. Ten percent said that they are not sure about whether they support the NSF. Respondents who had heard of the NSF were also asked whether they support its performance or not. The figures show that 11 percent think it has performed well, while 27 percent of the respondents said that its performance is average. The percent of those who view its performance negatively increased to 49 percent, compared with 42 percent in the poll of last month. The remaining percentage couldn't judge the NSF's performance. Furthermore, 39 percent of Egyptians have also never heard of the appeal court's decision on 27 March to reinstate Abdel Maguid Mahmoud, the former prosecutor general, and cancel the appointment of the current chief prosecutor, Talaat Abd Allah. Forty-one percent of the respondents see that the best solution is for the Supreme Judicial Council, Egypt's highest judicial authority, to nominate three names, after which President Morsy would then choose one as prosecutor general, as the constitution indicates. Eighteen percent, however, see that the solution is to enable Mahmoud to return to his post. Only 14 percent favor the current chief prosecutor remaining in his post. The remaining percentage said that they can't think of a solution to this crisis. Percentage of Egyptians who disapprove Morsy's performance reaches record high Two-thirds of his opponents can't name an alternative Percentage of supporters of National Salvation Front decreased Poll methodology: The poll was conducted using landline and mobile telephones, with a sample size of 2,202 respondents ages 18 or older nationwide. All interviews were conducted on Wednesday and Thursday, 27 and 28 March 2013. The response rate was approximately 73 percent, and the margin of error was less than 3 percent. Income brackets were determined based on ownership of durable goods. For more information on the detailed findings and the methodology adopted, or to see the graphic presentation of results, please consult our website: www.baseera.com.eg
