Wary of an ever-growing state in Ecuador, several indigenous groups have joined a nationwide movement against the government of President Rafael Correa. To demonstrate their resolve, they have decided to embark on a 10-day march all the way from the Amazon to Correa’s office in Quito. Read more>>
Pope Francis’ journey to Ecuador, which kicks off on Monday, “is to cultivate the virtues of the people and not to politicize his presence,” Quito Archbishop Fausto Trávez said late last week in public remarks. Good luck with that. President Rafael Correa has spent weeks appropriating the pope as his government’s very own 21st century socialist icon. So unless the Holy Father finds a way to signal Ecuadoreans otherwise, the visit is likely to leave the impression that the church is in solidarity with the repressive Correa machine. Read more>>
Thursday, June 25, 2015 will go down in Ecuador’s history, with one of the largest public protests ever recorded in the city of Guayaquil. Starting at 2 p.m. local time, the mayor’s office estimates that around 400,000 people — one in five city residents — filled Nueve de Octubre Avenue and its surroundings, to reject the latest measures taken by the government of President Rafael Correa. That makes three consecutive weeks of widespread demonstrations from Ecuadorians against the socialist government. Read more>>
Thousands of protesters on Thursday took to the streets of Ecuador’s largest city, Guayaquil, to protest against the policies of President Rafael Correa,especially new tax proposals. The Guayaquil demonstrations, led by Mayor Jaime Nebot, were part of the third week of protests against Mr. Correa’s government. On Thursday mass protests also took place in Ecuador’s capital, Quito, and in other cities. Read more>>
Students of the traditional Mejía Institute in Quito, Ecuador, have joined the nationwide protests against the government of President Rafael Correa that have gained momentum over the last two weeks. Three of those young protesters, however, have been accused of “sabotage,” and face up to seven years in jail if convicted. Read more>>
The government of Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa released a somewhat Orwellian video last month that tries to turn the concept of dictatorship on its head. The soundtrack of the video, which touts the administration’s various achievements, is a schmaltzy pop song that goes: “If this is a dictatorship, then we’ve been had. Until recently I thought dictator meant a tyrant… If this is a dictatorship, then let’s applaud the dictating heart.” Read more>>
On Saturday, June 13, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa hosted his weekly TV show from a different set: the Ice Palace in Milan, Italy, surrounded by South American immigrants. But not everyone in attendance was there to show support. A video which surfaced on social media shows Correa’s security detail confronting a group of dissident Ecuadorian immigrants as they held up protest banners, with messages such as “I declare myself in rebellion.” Read more>>
For Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, inherited property is a “fundamental factor in inequality.” As a result, he thinks it is necessary to modify the tax on inheritances worth more than a hundred basic salary units: that is, those over US$35,400. Read more>>
On Thursday, a Twitter user called current Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa a “fascist,” citing an alleged statement made by former President Osvaldo Hurtado. In response, and essentially reaffirming his argument, Correa responded by tweeting, “¡Heil Hitler!” Read more>>
President of Ecuador caught out by boy’s “I’m with stupid” T-shirt. Read more>>
Ahead of the 7th Summit of the Americas, Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa isn’t too pleased that the international community has dared call attention to serious human rights violations under his government. But instead of addressing his attacks on the media, free speech, and anyone who opposes his presidency, Correa conveniently blames Washington. Read more>>
Six years ago, Ecuador President Rafael Correa’s government denounced the 10 percent in annual interest the country paid on its bonds as “usury.” So when the 51-year-old former economics professor was willing to pay 10.5 percent in a sale of notes this month, it raised speculation the OPEC nation may be running short of cash after oil prices collapsed. Read more>>