(Updates with analyst's comments and other details)
SANTIAGO -(Dow Jones)- Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government has the lowest approval rating at the start of a new administration since the nation returned to democracy in 1990, pollster Centro de Estudios de la Realidad Contemporanea reported Wednesday.
The left-leaning think-tank's public opinion survey showed a 54% approval for Pinera's conservative government among Chileans.
February's massive earthquake that rocked the south of country may be one reason for the low rating. Only 48% of residents in the regions damaged by the disaster approve of Pinera's government, said Carlos Huneeus, director of the center, also known locally as CERC.
"This approval is the lowest obtained at the beginning of each of the five administrations of the [return to] democracy," said Huneeus.
Gen. Augusto Pinochet's 17-year dictatorship ended in 1990, when Patricio Aylwin took office after besting several contenders in the first elections since 1970.
Pinera's predecessors Michelle Bachelet and Ricardo Lagos had approval ratings of 65% and 67%, respectively, at the same point in their administrations, according to Huneeus.
But Pinera's lower ratings are not necessarily be bad news, said political analyst Patricio Navia.
"Every president has had a lower approval than his/her predecessor," said Navia, a professor at New York University. Navia believes this reflects that Chileans have become more critical of their presidents since the dictatorship.
The CERC poll's results are consistent with telephone pollster Adimark's May survey, which put Pinera at a 53% approval rating. The challenge for Pinera is to remain above a 50% rating, according to Navia.
Pinera's lower rating "reflects the fact that there is a strong electoral base for the left and center that are not happy to see a right-wing president," said Navia.
The CERC poll sampled 1,200 residents across the country from May 24 to June 6, just before the president's 100th day in office on June 18. CERC's poll has a margin of error of three percentage points.
Pinera's ratings were the lowest among young people, with 51% approval, and men, also at 51%. Women and people over age 61 gave him the highest levels of approval.
In addition, the think tank's public opinion survey demonstrated strong support for the return of former left-leaning president Michelle Bachelet, with 68% of those sampled saying they'd like to see her return as president.
"This opinion is very strong across society, with the exception of the highest socioeconomic class," said Huneeus, who attributed Bachelet's popularity to her strong public presence, especially on the Internet.
However, this result may not be a good indicator for future elections because it didn't include other choices, said analyst Navia.
"It is entirely possible that [Chileans] prefer other candidates when they are presented with choices," said Navia. "It's not going to be a plebiscite where people vote yes or no on Bachelet."
According to Chile's constitution, Bachelet wasn't eligible for immediate reelection when her term ended this year, but she can run in the 2014 election.
Copyright 2009 Dow Jones Newswires
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