moreno pres

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</div><div><div><h5 style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 1.6; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Economic crisis (1990–2000)[</h5><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable" style="padding-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">See also: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998-99_Ecuador_banking_crisis" class="mw-redirect" title="1998-99 Ecuador banking crisis" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">1998-99 Ecuador banking crisis</a></div>In 1992, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixto_Dur%C3%A1n_Ball%C3%A9n" title="Sixto Durán Ballén" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Sixto Durán Ballén</a> won his third run for the presidency. His tough <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macroeconomics" title="Macroeconomics" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">macroeconomic</a> adjustment measures were unpopular, but he succeeded in pushing a limited number of modernization initiatives through Congress. Durán Ballén's vice president, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberto_Dahik" title="Alberto Dahik" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Alberto Dahik</a>, was the architect of the administration's economic policies, but in 1995, Dahik fled the country to avoid prosecution on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_corruption" title="Political corruption" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">corruption</a> charges following a heated political battle with the opposition. A war with Peru (named <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cenepa_War" title="Cenepa War" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">the Cenepa War</a>, after a river located in the area) erupted in January–February 1995 in a small, remote region, where the boundary prescribed by the 1942 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Protocol" title="Rio Protocol" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Rio Protocol</a> was in dispute. The Durán-Ballén Administration can be credited with beginning the negotiations that would end in a final settlement of the territorial dispute.In 1996, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdal%C3%A1_Bucaram" title="Abdalá Bucaram" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Abdalá Bucaram</a>, from the populist Ecuadorian Roldosista Party, won the presidency on a platform that promised populist economic and social reforms. Almost from the start, Bucaram's administration languished amidst widespread allegations of corruption. Empowered by the president's unpopularity with organized labor, business, and professional organizations alike, Congress unseated Bucaram in February 1997 on grounds of mental incompetence. The Congress replaced Bucaram with Interim President <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabi%C3%A1n_Alarc%C3%B3n" title="Fabián Alarcón" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Fabián Alarcón</a>.In May 1997, following the demonstrations that led to the ousting of Bucaram and appointment of Alarcón, the people of Ecuador called for a National Assembly to reform the Constitution and the country's political structure. After a little more than a year, the National Assembly produced a new Constitution.Congressional and first-round presidential elections were held on May 31, 1998. No presidential candidate obtained a majority, so a run-off election between the top two candidates – Quito Mayor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamil_Mahuad" title="Jamil Mahuad" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Jamil Mahuad</a> of the DP and Social Christian Álvaro Noboa Pontón – was held on July 12, 1998. Mahuad won by a narrow margin. He took office on August 10, 1998. On the same day, Ecuador's new constitution came into effect.In July 1998, Christian Democrat Jamil Mahuad (who was the former mayor of Quito) was elected president. It is facing a difficult economic situation, linked in particular to the Asian crisis. The currency is devalued by 15%, fuel and electricity prices increase fivefold, and public transport prices increase by 40%. The government is preparing to privatize several key sectors of the economy: oil, electricity, telecommunications, ports, airports, railways and post office. The repression of a first general strike caused three deaths. The social situation is critical: more than half of the population is unemployed, 60% live below the extreme poverty line, public employees have not been paid for three months. A further increase in VAT, combined with the abolition of subsidies for domestic gas, electricity and diesel, triggers a new social movement. In the provinces of Latacunga, the army shoots the indigenous people who cut the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-American_Highway" title="Pan-American Highway" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Pan-American Highway</a>, injuring 17 people with bullets.The coup de grâce for Mahuad's administration was Mahuad's decision to make the local currency, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuadorian_sucre" title="Ecuadorian sucre" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">sucre</a> (named after <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Jos%C3%A9_de_Sucre" title="Antonio José de Sucre" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Antonio José de Sucre</a>), obsolete and replace it with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.dollar" class="mw-redirect" title="U.S. dollar" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">U.S. dollar</a> (a policy called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollarization" class="mw-redirect" title="Dollarization" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">dollarization</a>). This caused massive unrest as the lower classes struggled to convert their now useless sucres to US dollars and lost wealth, while the upper classes (whose members already had their wealth invested in US dollars) gained wealth in turn. Under Mahuad's recession-plagued term, the economy shrank significantly, and inflation reached levels of up to 60 percent.In addition, corruption scandals are a source of public concern. Former Vice President Alberto Dahik, architect of the neoliberal economic programme, is fleeing abroad after being indicted for "questionable use of reserved funds". Former President Fabián Alarcón is arrested on charges of covering more than a thousand fictitious jobs. President Mahuad is implicated for receiving money from drug trafficking during his election campaign. Several major bankers are also cited in cases. Mahuad concluded a well-received peace with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peru" title="Peru" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Peru</a> on October 26, 1998.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-17" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[17]</a><h4 style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 1.6; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Ecuador since 2000[</h4>flagged]
On January 21, 2000, during demonstrations in Quito by indigenous groups, the military and police refused to enforce public order, beginning what became known as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_Ecuadorean_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat" class="mw-redirect" title="2000 Ecuadorean coup d'état" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">2000 Ecuadorean coup d'état</a>. Demonstrators entered the National Assembly building and declared, in a move that resembled the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coups_d%27%C3%A9tat" class="mw-redirect" title="Coups d'état" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">coups d'état</a> endemic to Ecuadorean history, a three-person <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_dictatorship" title="Military dictatorship" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">junta</a> in charge of the country. Field-grade military officers declared their support for the concept. During a night of confusion and failed negotiations, President Mahuad was forced to flee the presidential palace for his own safety. Vice President <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavo_Noboa" title="Gustavo Noboa" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Gustavo Noboa</a> took charge by vice-presidential decree; Mahuad went on national television in the morning to endorse Noboa as his successor. The military triumvirate that was effectively running the country also endorsed Noboa. The Ecuadorean Congress then met in an emergency session in Guayaquil on the same day, January 22, and ratified Noboa as President of the Republic in constitutional succession to Mahuad.Although Ecuador began to improve economically in the following months, the government of Noboa came under heavy fire for the continuation of the dollarization policy, its disregard for social problems, and other important issues in Ecuadorean politics.Retired Colonel <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucio_Guti%C3%A9rrez" title="Lucio Gutiérrez" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Lucio Gutiérrez</a>, a member of the military junta that overthrew Mahuad, was elected president in 2002 and assumed the presidency on January 15, 2003. Gutierrez's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_21_Patriotic_Society_Party" class="mw-redirect" title="January 21 Patriotic Society Party" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Patriotic Society Party</a> had a small fraction of the seats in Congress and therefore depended on the support of other parties in Congress to pass legislation.In December 2004, Gutiérrez unconstitutionally dissolved the Supreme Court and appointed new judges to it. This move was generally seen as a kickback to deposed ex-President Abdalá Bucaram, whose political party had sided with Gutiérrez and helped derail attempts to impeach him in late 2004. The new Supreme Court dropped charges of corruption pending against the exiled Bucaram, who soon returned to the politically unstable country. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_corruption" title="Political corruption" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">corruption</a> evident in these maneuvers finally led Quito's middle classes to seek the ousting of Gutiérrez in early 2005. In April 2005, the Ecuadorian Armed Forces declared that it "withdrew its support" for the President. After weeks of public protests, Gutiérrez was overthrown in April. Vice President <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfredo_Palacio" title="Alfredo Palacio" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Alfredo Palacio</a> assumed the Presidency and vowed to complete the term of office and hold elections in 2006.On January 15, 2007, the social democrat <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Correa" title="Rafael Correa" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Rafael Correa</a> succeeded Palacio as President of Ecuador, with the promise of summoning a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constituent_assembly" title="Constituent assembly" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">constituent assembly</a> and bringing focus on poverty. The 2007-8 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuadorian_Constituent_Assembly" title="Ecuadorian Constituent Assembly" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Ecuadorian Constituent Assembly</a> drafted the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Constitution_of_Ecuador" title="2008 Constitution of Ecuador" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">2008 Constitution of Ecuador</a>, approved via the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuadorian_constitutional_referendum,2008" class="mw-redirect" title="Ecuadorian constitutional referendum, 2008" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Ecuadorian constitutional referendum, 2008</a>.In November 2009, Ecuador faced an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Ecuador_electricity_crisis" title="2009 Ecuador electricity crisis" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">energy crisis</a> that led to power rationing across the country.Between 2006 and 2016, poverty decreased from 36.7% to 22.5% and annual per capita GDP growth was 1.5 percent (as compared to 0.6 percent over the prior two decades). At the same time, inequalities, as measured by the Gini index, decreased from 0.55 to 0.47.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-18" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[18]</a><div class="thumb tleft" style="float: left; clear: left; margin: 0.5em 1.4em 1.3em 0px; width: auto;"><div class="thumbinner" style="min-width: 100px; border: 1px solid rgb(200, 204, 209); padding: 3px; text-align: center; overflow: hidden; width: 222px;">
<div class="thumbcaption" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><div class="magnify" style="background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); float: right; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 0px;" /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Correa" title="Rafael Correa" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Rafael Correa</a> (left) attends President-elect <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len%C3%ADn_Moreno" title="Lenín Moreno" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 102); text-decoration-line: none;">Lenín</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len%C3%ADn_Moreno" title="Lenín Moreno" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;"> Moreno</a>'s (middle) 'changing of the guard' ceremony. The two <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAIS_Alliance" title="PAIS Alliance" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">PAIS</a> leaders were considered close allies before Moreno's "De-correaization" efforts started after he assumed the presidency.</div></div></div>Beginning in 2007, President <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Correa" title="Rafael Correa" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Rafael Correa</a> established <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Citizens%27_Revolution" title="The Citizens' Revolution" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">The Citizens' Revolution</a>, a movement following <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-wing" class="mw-redirect" title="Left-wing" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">left-wing</a> policies, which some sources describe as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Populism" title="Populism" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">populist</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-WORLDsocialist-19" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[19]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-20" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[20]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-PBS-21" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[21]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-WSJ2013-22" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[22]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:32-23" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[23]</a> Correa was able to utilize the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000s_commodities_boom" title="2000s commodities boom" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">2000s commodities boom</a> to fund his policies,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-WSJ2013-22" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[22]</a> utilizing China's need for raw materials.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:03-24" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[24]</a> Through China, Correa accepted loans that had few requirements, as opposed to firm limits set by other lenders.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:03-24" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[24]</a> With this funding, Ecuador was able to invest in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_welfare" class="mw-redirect" title="Social welfare" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">social welfare</a> programs, reduce <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty" title="Poverty" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">poverty</a> and increase the average <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_of_living" title="Standard of living" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">standard of living</a> in Ecuador, while at the same time growing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Ecuador" title="Economy of Ecuador" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Ecuador's economy</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-25" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[25]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-26" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[26]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-27" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[27]</a> Such policies resulted in a popular base of support for Correa, who was re-elected to the presidency three times between 2007 and 2013.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-WSJ2013-22" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[22]</a> Media coverage in the United States viewed Correa's strong popular support and efforts to re-found the Ecuadorian State as an entrenchment of power.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-WSJ2013-22" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[22]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:24-28" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[28]</a>As the Ecuadorian economy began to decline in 2014, Correa decided not to run for a fourth term<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-29" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[29]</a> and by 2015, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Ecuadorian_protests" title="2015 Ecuadorian protests" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">protests occurred against Correa</a> following the introduction of austerity measures and an increase of inheritance taxes.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-WORLDsocialist-19" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[19]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-WSJjune25-30" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[30]</a> Instead, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len%C3%ADn_Moreno" title="Lenín Moreno" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Lenín Moreno</a>, who was at the time a staunch Correa loyalist and had served as his vice-president for over six years, was expected to continue with Correa's legacy and the implementation of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism_of_the_21st_century" title="Socialism of the 21st century" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">21st century socialism</a> in the country, running on a broadly left-wing platform with significant similarities to Correa's.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:24-28" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[28]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-31" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[31]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-32" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[32]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-apnewscorrea-33" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[33]</a>In the weeks after his election, Moreno distanced himself from Correa's policies<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:12-34" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[34]</a> and shifted the left-wing PAIS Alliance's away from the left-wing politics and towards the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoliberalism" title="Neoliberalism" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">neoliberal</a> governance.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:24-28" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[28]</a> Despite these policy shifts, Moreno continued to identify himself as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_democrat" class="mw-redirect" title="Social democrat" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">social democrat</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-35" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[35]</a> Moreno then led the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Ecuadorian_referendum_and_popular_consultation" title="2018 Ecuadorian referendum and popular consultation" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">2018 Ecuadorian referendum</a>, which reinstated <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Term_limit" title="Term limit" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">presidential term limits</a> that were removed by Correa, barring Correa from running for a fourth presidential term in the future.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:24-28" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[28]</a> At his election, Moreno enjoyed an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len%C3%ADn_Moreno#Approval_rating" title="Lenín Moreno" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">approval rating of 79 percent</a>. Moreno's distancing from his predecessor's policies and his electoral campaign's platform, however, alienated both former President Correa<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-36" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[36]</a> and a large percentage of his own party's supporters.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-37" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[37]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-cuenca-38" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[38]</a> In July 2018, a warrant for Correa's arrest was issued after facing 29 charges for alleged corruption acts performed while he was in office.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:32-23" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[23]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:02-39" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[39]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-APcoup-40" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[40]</a>Due to increased borrowing by Correa's administration, which he had used to fund social welfare projects, as well as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010s_oil_glut" title="2010s oil glut" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">2010s oil glut</a>, public debt tripled in a five-year period, with Ecuador eventually coming to use of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bank_of_Ecuador" title="Central Bank of Ecuador" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Central Bank of Ecuador's</a> reserves for funds.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:4-41" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[41]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:2-42" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[42]</a> In total, Ecuador was left $64 billion in debt and was losing $10 billion annually.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:2-42" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[42]</a> On 21 August 2018, Moreno announced economic austerity measures to reduce public spending and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_budget_balance" title="Government budget balance" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">deficit</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:6-43" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[43]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:7-44" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[44]</a> Moreno stated that the measures aimed to save $1 billion and included a reduction of fuel subsidies, eliminating subsidies for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline" title="Gasoline" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">gasoline</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_fuel" title="Diesel fuel" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">diesel</a>, and the removal or merging of several public entities, a move denounced by the groups representing the nation's indigenous groups and trade unions.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:6-43" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[43]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:7-44" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[44]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:24-28" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[28]</a>In August 2018, Ecuador withdrew from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolivarian_Alliance_for_the_Peoples_of_Our_America" class="mw-redirect" title="Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America</a> (Alba), a regional bloc of leftwing governments led by Venezuela.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-45" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[45]</a>In October 2018, the government of President Lenin Moreno cut diplomatic relations with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicol%C3%A1s_Maduro" title="Nicolás Maduro" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Nicolás Maduro</a> regime of Venezuela, a close ally of Rafael Correa.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-46" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[46]</a>In March 2019, Ecuador withdrew from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_of_South_American_Nations" title="Union of South American Nations" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Union of South American Nations</a>. Ecuador was an original member of the block, founded by left-wing governments in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2008. Ecuador also asked UNASUR to return the headquarters building of the organization, based in its capital city, Quito.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-47" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[47]</a>In June 2019, Ecuador agreed to allow US military planes to operate from an airport on the Galapagos Islands.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-48" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[48]</a>On 1 October 2019, Lenín Moreno announced a package of economic measures as part of a deal with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Monetary_Fund" title="International Monetary Fund" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">International Monetary Fund</a> (IMF) to obtain US$4,209 millions in credit. These measures became known as "el paquetazo" and they included the end of fuel <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsidy" title="Subsidy" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 102); text-decoration-line: none;">subsidies</a>, removal of some import tariffs and cuts in public worker benefits and wages.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-bbc-4reasons-49" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[49]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-nodal-paquetazo-50" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[50]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:1-51" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[51]</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Ecuadorian_protests" title="2019 Ecuadorian protests" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">This caused mass protests</a> which began on 3 October 2019. On 8 October, President Moreno relocated his <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Ecuador" class="mw-redirect" title="Government of Ecuador" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">government</a> to the coastal city of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guayaquil" title="Guayaquil" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Guayaquil</a> after anti-government protesters had overrun Quito, including the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carondelet_Palace" title="Carondelet Palace" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Carondelet Palace</a>. On the same day, Moreno accused his predecessor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Correa" title="Rafael Correa" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Rafael Correa</a> of orchestrating a coup against the government with the aid of Venezuela's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicol%C3%A1s_Maduro" title="Nicolás Maduro" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Nicolás Maduro</a>, a charge which Correa denied.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-:5-52" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[52]</a> Later that day, the authorities shut down oil production at the Sacha oil field, which produces 10% of the nation's oil, after it was occupied by protesters. Two more oil fields were captured by protesters shortly thereafter. Demonstrators also captured repeater antennas, forcing State TV and radio offline in parts of the country. Indigenous protesters blocked most of Ecuador's main roads, completely cutting the transport routes to the city of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuenca,Ecuador" title="Cuenca, Ecuador" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Cuenca</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-53" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[53]</a>On 9 October, protesters managed to briefly burst into and occupy the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Assembly(Ecuador)" title="National Assembly (Ecuador)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">National Assembly</a>, before being driven out by police using <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tear_gas" title="Tear gas" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">tear gas</a>. Violent clashes erupted between demonstrators and police forces as the protests spread further.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-54" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[54]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-55" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[55]</a> During the late-night hours of 13 October, the Ecuadorian government and CONAIE reached an agreement during a televised negotiation.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-56" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[56]</a> Both parties agreed to collaborate on new economic measures to combat overspending and debt. The government agreed to end the austerity measures at the center of the controversy and the protesters in turn agreed to end the two-week-long series of demonstrations. President Moreno agreed to withdraw Decree 883, an IMF-backed plan that caused a significant rise in fuel costs.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-57" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[57]</a>The relations with the United States improved significantly during the presidency of Lenin Moreno. In February 2020, his visit to Washington was the first meeting between an Ecuadorian and U.S. president in 17 years. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-58" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[58]</a>The 11 April 2021 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Ecuadorian_general_election" title="2021 Ecuadorian general election" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">election</a> run-off vote ended in a win for conservative former banker, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillermo_Lasso" title="Guillermo Lasso" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Guillermo Lasso</a>, taking 52.4% of the vote compared to 47.6% of left-wing economist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9s_Arauz" title="Andrés Arauz" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Andrés Arauz</a>, supported by exiled former president, Rafael Correa. Previously, President-elect Lasso finished second in the 2013 and 2017 presidential elections.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-59" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[59]</a> On 24 May 2021, Guillermo Lasso was sworn in as the new <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Ecuador" title="President of Ecuador" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">President of Ecuador</a>, becoming the country's first right-wing leader in 14 years.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ecuador#cite_note-60" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[60]</a><h2 style="margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">See also[</h2><ul w="w" skins="skins" vector="Vector" resources="resources" common="common" images="images" bullet-icon.svg="bullet-icon.svg" d4515="d4515" margin="margin" em="em" px="px" padding="padding" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="list-style-image: url("");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1830_Constitution_of_Ecuador" title="1830 Constitution of Ecuador" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">1830 Constitution of Ecuador</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Constitution_of_Ecuador" title="2008 Constitution of Ecuador" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">2008 Constitution of Ecuador</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_history_of_Ecuador" title="Economic history of Ecuador" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Economic history of Ecuador</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Latin_America" title="History of Latin America" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">History of Latin America</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_South_America" title="History of South America" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">History of South America</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Americas" title="History of the Americas" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">History of the Americas</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Ecuador" title="Francisco Pizarro" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Military history of Ecuador</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Ecuador" title="" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Politics of Ecuador</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Ecuador" title="President of Ecuador" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">President of Ecuador</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_colonization_of_the_Americas" title="Spanish colonization of the Americas" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Spanish colonization of the Americas</a></li></ul><h2 style="margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">References</h2></div><div>...</div><div>
</div><div></div><div><a href="https://www.alternet.org/2020/09/how-ecuadors-democracy-is-being-suffocated/">https://www.alternet.org/2020/09/how-ecuadors-democracy-is-being-suffocated/</a><div>   <a href="https://independentmediainstitute.org/globetrotter/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">Globetrotter</a></div>A recent <a href="https://www.atlasintel.org/media/encuesta-atlas-elecciones-presidenciales-ecuador-2021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">poll</a> showed that if Andrés Arauz Galarza were allowed to run in Ecuador's presidential election of 2021, he would win in the first round with 45.9 percent of the vote. The pollsters found that Arauz—who was the minister of knowledge and human talent from 2015 to 2017—wins across "all the social strata and regions of the country, with a slight weakness among the richest voters in the country."Andrés Arauz entered policymaking and government when Rafael Correa was the president of the country, from 2007 to 2017. A stint at the Central Bank led to a career in the planning department (SENPLADES), before Arauz became a minister in the last two turbulent years of Correa's government. There was not a whiff of corruption or incompetence around Arauz in his decade of service; when Correa left office, Arauz went to Mexico to pursue a PhD at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).Far behind Arauz in the polls is Guillermo Lasso Mendoza, the candidate of the right. Lasso, who is a wealthy banker, had run against the current President Lenín Moreno in 2017 but lost. He is the consensus candidate of the right wing, which cannot seem to advance his standing in the polls. He sits frozen at 32 percent.Those polled said that Arauz was by far the most attractive candidate. But, if the ruling bloc in Ecuador has its way, Arauz will not be sworn in as the next president of the country next year. They will use every means to suffocate democracy in their country.Correa and MorenoThe government of Rafael Correa, who is now living in Belgium, attempted to move a broadly left agenda while in office from 2007 to 2017. The Citizens' Revolution that Correa led passed a progressive <a href="https://www.asambleanacional.gob.ec/sites/default/files/private/asambleanacional/filesasambleanacionalnameuid-29/constitucion-republica-inc-sent-cc.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">constitution</a> in 2008, which put the principle of good living (buen vivir in Spanish and sumak kawsay in Quechua) at its heart. Government investment to strengthen social and economic rights came alongside a crackdown on corporate (including multinational) corruption. Oil revenue was not parked in foreign banks, but used to invest in <a href="https://confirmado.net/2020/05/08/la-educacion-fue-la-bandera-en-la-decada-de-correa/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">education</a>, <a href="https://www.presidencia.gob.ec/presidente-la-salud-no-es-una-mercancia-es-un-derecho/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">health care</a>, <a href="https://www.obraspublicas.gob.ec/mas-de-558-millones-de-dolares-en-obras-viales-ha-invertido-el-gobierno-nacional-en-loja/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">roads</a>, and other basic infrastructure. From Ecuador's population of 17 million, nearly 2 million people were lifted out of <a href="https://www.inclusion.gob.ec/presidente-correa-19-millones-de-personas-dejaron-de-ser-pobres-en-seis-anos/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">poverty</a> in the Correa years.Correa's government was anathema to the multinational firms—such as the U.S.-based oil company Chevron—and to the Ecuadorian oligarchy. Chevron's dangerous case for compensation against Ecuador, brought before Correa took office, was nonetheless fiercely resisted by Correa's government; the Dirty Hand (Mano Negra) campaign put enormous international pressure against Chevron. Chevron worked <a href="https://amazonwatch.org/news/2011/0921-wikileaks-cables-expose-chevron-lobbying-of-ecuador-government-to-kill-environmental-case" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">closely</a> with the U.S. embassy in Quito and the U.S. government to undermine Correa and his campaign against the oil giant. Not only did they want him out, but they wanted the political tradition of the left—called Correistas by shorthand—out as well. Moreno, who was once close to Correa, switched sides and became the main instrument for the fragmentation of the Ecuadorian left.In the election of 2017, Moreno defeated Guillermo Lasso, who is running again in 2021. But, within a short time, Moreno sharply moved rightward. He worked closely with Lasso in the National Assembly to <a href="https://dolarizacion.ec/2019/02/06/privatizaciones-2-0-lecciones-del-pasado-traidas-a-valor-presente/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">undermine</a> each advance made by the government of Correa. They defunded education and health care, withdrew labor rights and rights to housing, wanted to sell off Ecuador's refinery, and deregulated parts of the financial system. A consequence of these policies has been Ecuador's appalling response, including accusations of <a href="https://vocesecu.com/2020/09/03/moreno-escondio-mas-de-20-mil-muertos-bajo-la-alfombra/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">deliberate</a> undercounting, to the COVID-19 pandemic.Attack on the CorreistasMoreno and his right-wing allies needed to inoculate themselves from any criticism. They went on a frontal attack against the Correistas.The first battleground was to fragment the Correista political organization and to deny the Correistas a political platform. A February 2018 referendum was <a href="https://elestado.net/2020/06/23/referendum-2018-ecuador-consulta-corrupcion/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">barreled</a> through the country that allowed the government to destroy the democratic structures of the Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE), the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the Judiciary Council, the attorney general, the comptroller general, and others. With the assistance of the CNE, Moreno <a href="https://www.larepublica.ec/blog/2018/01/15/contencioso-electoral-reconoce-directiva-morenista-al-frente-de-alianza-pais/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">divided</a> and took control of Correa's party, the Alianza Pais.When the Correistas tried to regroup and form a party, the institutions of the state <a href="https://bit.ly/3mXPbyl" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">blocked</a> them. They said that the proposed names were misleading or that the signatures collected were invalid. By 2019, the Correistas used the Fuerza Compromiso Social platform to <a href="https://bit.ly/346tQtK" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">run</a> for local elections in 2019. This platform was then <a href="https://ww2.elmercurio.com.ec/2020/09/17/el-cne-elimina-a-fuerza-compromiso-social-de-rafael-correa-y-a-otros-tres-movimientos/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">banned</a> in 2020.In Brazil, the oligarchy prevented former president Lula from contesting the 2018 election; that process resulted in a new concept, <a href="https://www.thetricontinental.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Dossier5_LulaAndTheBattleForDemocracyInBrazil.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">lawfare</a>—using the law as a political instrument. The same sort of lawfare was used in Ecuador to ensnare Correa and to prevent him from running for office. Correa was accused of bribery—with the bizarre notion of "psychic influence" (influjo psíquico) at the root of the <a href="https://issuu.com/la_hora/docs/17721-2019-00029g_pdf_boletas_sentencia_apelaci_n" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">case</a>. The eight-year sentence inflicted upon him prevented him from running for office in Ecuador; that he was in Belgium meant that he could not, however, be arrested and imprisoned.Election of 2021The Correistas, using their platform of Union for Hope (Unión por la Esperanza), made an alliance with the Movimiento Centro Democrático to be able to run a candidate for the presidential election of 2021. Arauz won the primaries and was <a href="https://bit.ly/3j9ucpM" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">nominated</a> as the presidential candidate. The party decided to have two vice-presidential candidates—both Correa and Carlos Rabascall.The CNE's president Diana Atamaint <a href="https://ecuador221.com.ec/2020/09/22/cne-analizara-si-descalifica-al-binomio-correista/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">indicated</a> that the CNE would disqualify Correa from the ballot, and even suggested that Arauz's candidacy is illegal as a consequence of having Correa as his running mate. Matters are at a stalemate, as lawyers scurry about trying to find a solution to this crisis. The CNE has until October 7 to fix the matter. The first round for the election is on February 7, 2021.Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian, editor and journalist. He is a writing fellow and chief correspondent at Globetrotter. He is the chief editor of <a href="https://mayday.leftword.com/" target="blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">LeftWord Books</a> and the director of <a href="https://thetricontinental.org/" target="blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research</a>. He is a senior non-resident fellow at <a href="https://tinyurl.com/y2hdjcpo" target="blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies</a>, Renmin University of China. He has written more than 20 books, including <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Darker-Nations-Peoples-History-Third/dp/1595583424/?tag=alternorg08-20" target="blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">The Darker Nations</a> and <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Poorer-Nations-Possible-History-Global/dp/1781681589/?tag=alternorg08-20" target="blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">The Poorer Nations</a>. His latest book is <a href="https://mayday.leftword.com/catalog/product/view/id/21820" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">Washington Bullets</a>, with an introduction by Evo Morales Ayma.Pilar Troya is a researcher at <a href="https://www.thetricontinental.org/" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research</a>. She is an Ecuadorian anthropologist interested in the feminist movement and social public policies, especially concerning gender equality. She served as a member of the board of Ecuador's former Women's National Council (CONAMU), an adviser to the <a href="https://www.planificacion.gob.ec/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">Ministry of National Planning</a>, and an adviser and deputy minister in the <a href="https://www.educacionsuperior.gob.ec/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology</a>.</div><div></div><div>
</div><div>https://www.alternet.org/julian-assanges-departure-ecuador-embassy-london-imminent<div>
</div><div><div>gr grreenwald has a piece up at the Intercept declaring that Julian Assange’s tenure at Ecuador’s London embassy may be coming to an end very soon.</div><div>
</div><div>Ecuador’s President Lenin Moreno traveled to London on Friday for the ostensible purpose of speaking at the 2018 Global Disabilities Summit(Moreno has been confined to a wheelchair since being shot in a 1998 robbery attempt). The concealed, actual purpose of the President’s trip is to meet with British officials to finalize an agreement under which Ecuador will withdraw its asylum protection of Julian Assange, in place since 2012, eject him from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, and then hand over the WikiLeaks founder to British authorities.</div><div>
</div><div>Now it is Glenn Greenwald, so take it with an appropriately large grain of salt, but apparently this has been in the works for some time.</div><div>
</div><div>Don't let big tech control what news you see. Get more stories like this in your inbox, every day.</div><div>
</div><div>email address</div><div>
</div><div>SPONSORED</div><div> </div><div>A source close to the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry and the President’s office, unauthorized to speak publicly, has confirmed to the Intercept that Moreno is close to finalizing, if he has not already finalized, an agreement to hand over Assange to the UK within the next several weeks. The withdrawal of asylum and physical ejection of Assange could come as early as this week. On Friday, RT reported that Ecuador was preparing to enter into such an agreement.</div></div></div></div>