Ecuador News & Current Events

President Rafael Correa Wins New Constitution and Seeks to Establish Internal Stability

 

Correa immediately set out to boost economic growth and root out corruption in the country's political system. In an April 2007 referendum, voters overwhelmingly approved his call to rewrite the constitution. He hoped the new constitution would weaken Congress, which has been called inept and corrupt. Correa's critics accused him of trying to consolidate power, with moves reminiscent of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. In September 2008, 64% of voters approved the new constitution that increased presidential powers and allowed Correa to run for two more consecutive terms.

In March 2008, Colombian forces crossed into Ecuadorean territory and killed FARC rebel leader Raúl Reyes and 20 other rebels. In response, Venezuela and Ecuador broke off diplomatic relations with Colombia and sent troops to the Colombian borders, although both countries denied any ties to FARC. In an attempt to help cool the diplomatic tension between the three countries, the Organization of American States approved a resolution, which declared that the Colombian raid into Ecuador was a violation of sovereignty. On March 6, Nicaragua broke off diplomatic relations with Colombia to demonstrate unity with President Rafael Correa of Ecuador. On March 7, 2008, during a summit meeting in the Dominican Republic, the leaders of Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Nicaragua ended their diplomatic dispute over Colombia's raid into Ecuador.

In September 2010, police protesting Correa's plan to end bonuses and reduce other benefits for the force fired tear gas at the president and then held him captive in a hospital for more than 12 hours. He was rescued by special forces, but five people were killed in the operation and nearly 40 were injured. Correa accused the officers of attempting a coup and declared a state of emergency.

A package of ten constitutional amendments tackling judicial and media reforms went to vote on May 7, 2011. President Rafael Correa's "Yes" campaign won all the questions with an average just over 47%. Correa claimed the referendums were needed to support the police and eliminate corrupt and inept judges; opponents say the reforms were a presidential power-seeking move.

 

Correa Pardons Four in Libel Case

 

In late February 2012, President Correa pardoned three newspaper executives and one columnist in a libel case. The pardon wiped out a three year prison sentence and $42 million in fines for the men and El Universo, the country's leading opposition newspaper. Correa said in a statement after the pardon, "The abusive press has been defeated." The pardon came months after Correa sued El Universo. The lawsuit was over a columnist accusing him of ordering troops to fire on a hospital during an uprising in September 2011. Correa denied giving the order. The courts ruled in his favor.

Correa, who has battled the media since he took office, maintains that he is fighting a media that favors businesses and people who own the media companies. Meanwhile human-rights groups say that Correa uses his position to silence criticism of his government.

 

Ecuador Grants Asylum to Julian Assange

 

On August 16, 2012, Ecuador announced that it was granting political asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Assange had been seeking refuge at the country's Embassy in London while waiting for the decision. The decision further strained relations between Ecuador and Britain. The night before the announcement, Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño reported that British officials had threatened to invade Ecuador's embassy. In response to the threat, Patiño said, "We are not a British colony." On the morning of the asylum announcement, President Correa tweeted this message on his personal Twitter account: "No one is going to terrorize us!"

Patiño announced the asylum at a news conference, where he said, "The government of Ecuador, faithful to its tradition of protecting those who seek refuge in its territory or in its diplomatic missions, has decided to grant diplomatic asylum to Julian Assange." Patiño added that Assange could face the death penalty if tried in the United States. Britain continued to reject the request for Assange to be moved to Ecuador from the embassy in London. Britain maintained its legal obligation to extradite Assange to Sweden. In Sweden, Assange was still wanted for questioning over accusations of sexual assault.

 

President Correa Begins His Third Term

 

On May 24, 2013, President Rafael Correa began his third term. Correa's third term started with his popularity extremely high and with more than a two-thirds majority in Congress. Correa also had a stable economy to work with as well as a weak and divided opposition.

Correa was re-elected in February 2013, when he received three times more votes than his closest competitor. According to Ecuador's current constitution, he would not be able to run for another term.

See also Encyclopedia: Ecuador .

National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) (In Spanish only) www.inec.gov.ec/ .

U.S. State Dept. Country Notes: Ecuador