In the latest South American presidents’ ranking by CB Consultora Opinion Publica, released for December 2025, Argentina’s Javier Milei tops the regional list, while Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro finds himself near the bottom of the approval ladder — a sign of ongoing political challenges in his home country. Petro sits ninth in South American presidents’ ranking, which highlights his current standing.
The Argentina-based research firm, known for monthly polls across the continent, surveyed populations in all 10 South American nations between Dec. 9 and 13, 2025. The results show wide differences in how citizens view their leaders’ performances — with no president exceeding 50 % approval overall, Diario La Hora reports.
Leading the ranking is Javier Milei of Argentina, with 48.3 % approval, narrowly outpacing Rodrigo Paz Pereira of Bolivia (47.6 %) and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil (47.1 %), signaling a closely contested public perception at the top of the regional political spectrum.
Petro sits only above Maduro in December 2025 Presidents’ Ranking
For Colombian audiences, the ranking underscores Petro’s low standing among the region’s heads of state: He is placed 9th out of 10, with just 34.9 % approval — a figure significantly lower than the regional average and reflective of dwindling public confidence.
Meanwhile, his disapproval is reported to remain well above his favorability score, consistent with the trend of strong negative sentiment around his presidency.
“Although Petro has implemented key reforms and sought to address inequality and security issues, these initiatives have not translated into widespread approval among his own citizens,” political analysts say, pointing to persistent polarization and debate over his policy agenda as factors in his low ranking.
Broader regional trends
According to outlet 24 Horas, mid-tier leaders such as Uruguay’s Yamandu Orsi and Paraguay’s Santiago Peña hold moderate approval ratings, despite significant disapproval margins.
Chile’s Gabriel Boric and Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa follow closely, but both face majority negative perceptions, while Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro remains the least popular president region-wide.
Experts underscore that this regional ranking reflects more than static popularity — it is a snapshot of how domestic policies, economic conditions, and governance styles resonate with local populations as 2026 approaches, a year of vital elections and political turning points across the continent.
For Colombia, Petro’s position near the bottom of the regional approval list highlights not just dissatisfaction at home, but also a broader comparative challenge as neighboring countries navigate their own public opinion dynamics.
South American Presidents’ Approval Ranking — December 2025 (CB Consultora Opinión Pública)
Rank President Country Approval Disapproval
1 Javier Milei Argentina 48.3% 49.5%
2 Rodrigo Paz Bolivia 47.6% 47.5%
3 Lula da Silva Brazil 47.1% 49.6%
4 Yamandu Orsi Uruguay 43.3% 54.3%
5 Santiago Peña Paraguay 42.9% 54.3%
6 Gabriel Boric Chile 41.1% 55.1%
7 Daniel Noboa Ecuador 39.4% 57.5%
8 Jose Jeri Peru 37.2% 48.6%
9 Gustavo Petro Colombia 34.9% 61.4%
10 Nicolas Maduro Venezuela 24.3% 72.1%