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South America and South Atlantic Islands
Ecuador |
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Country information
POLITICS
Several main traditional political parties dominated politics since Ecuador’s return to civilian rule. This period has been characterised by both political and institutional instability. During the 1980s and early 1990s two major political parties had the most influence - the right wing PSC (Partido Social Cristiano), with its traditional leader León Febres Cordero (President 1984-88), and the left wing ID (Izquierda Democrática), led by Rodrigo Borja (President 1988-92). For many years, the PSC controlled the main state institutions, including Congress. In the early nineties the credibility of the traditional parties began to decline and many populist movements began to gain favour.
Abdalá Bucaram (President August 1996 to February 1997) and his party PRE (Partido Roldosista Ecuatoriano) had much influence in the late 1990s, but lost favour after Bucaram’s controversial administration, which resulted in his premature removal from office. The DP (Democracia Popular) was also a key player during this period, led by Jamil Mahuad (President August 1998 to January 2000). The economic crisis, culminating in the banking crisis of 1999, in which half of Ecuador’s banks collapsed, led Mahuad to adopt the US Dollar as the national currency, amid much opposition. Although the economy stabilised quickly as a result of dollarisation, Mahuad was forced to leave office prematurely. The DP was recently re-founded as UDC (Unión Demócrata Cristiana), but as a centre-right wing party it has failed to attract popular support.
Lucio Gutierrez (President January 2000 to April 2003, when he was forced from office) and his party PSP (Partido Sociedad Patriótica) heavily influenced the administration of government in more recent years. But the PSP has been unable to regain its previously powerful position, reflected in the election results for the Constituent Assembly (see below). The Movimiento Popular Democratico (MPD), which represents the education union, has been a political force in recent Ecuadorian politics, but its influence has waned with many of its traditional voters now supporting President Correa’s movement.
Many other smaller political and minority parties have also taken part in Ecuadorian politics and the voting system had been designed to give emphasis to minorities. In the past this has produced a large number of political organisations, weakening the influence of government and leading to increasingly polarised political opinion.
President Rafael Correa (Alianza País), who took office in January 2007, has pledged to redistribute the country’s wealth through radical political and social reform, including greater State participation in the economy. He has promoted a Constituent Assembly, tasked with re-writing the Constitution, Ecuador’s twentieth since independence. Over 3,200 candidates competed for the 130-seat Constituent Assembly in elections on 30 September 2007. The EU, the OAS and the Carter Foundation monitored the election process. The final results gave President Correa’s movement 80 seats, giving it an outright majority in the assembly. Since the assembly began work on 29 November, Congress has gone into recess. The assembly concluded its work on a new Constitution on 25 July and this was accepted in a national referendum that took place on 28 September. The new constitution came into force on 20 October 2008. General elections were held on 26 April and President Correa was elected in the first round. The final results of other elections have still to be announced.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Ecuador is a signatory of the 6 major Human Rights instruments, has a National Human Rights Plan and a Constitution that is one of the most advanced in terms of human rights principles in Latin America.
Ecuador's Human Rights record does not attract regular criticism from Human Rights organisations. Amnesty International has in the past urged the Ecuadorean Government to show its commitment in practice to the respect of human rights, and has called upon the authorities to carry out independent and impartial investigations to bring perpetrators of human rights abuse to justice. Murder rates in Quito and Guayaquil have risen in recent years and kidnappings have also increased.
The UK has funded a number of small projects on human rights such as promoting the National Human Rights Plan in Ecuador's regions, training youth promoters of human rights, support for the victims of domestic and sexual violence and a training programme for journalists reporting on corruption cases. Most recently, with funding from the Global Conflict Prevention Fund, we supported a project aimed at raising awareness amongst stakeholders on the border with Colombia on refugee's rights, women's rights, conflict resolution and conflict management. The UK has also funded projects related to prison reform.
Financed by DFID’s Civil Society Challenge Fund, a 3-year project worth £273,000 began in 2007. The project, which is administered by local partners, focuses on the rights of children from impoverished areas of Guayaquil to access and complete primary education.
