Ecuador will go to the polls this Sunday to elect a new president to replace the conservative Guillermo Lasso, in a transition process what could join the left turn and to the progressivism that other Latin American countries have already given.
Lasso, who decided to cut his term that was due to end in 2025 due to not being able to carry out the reforms he wanted in the National Assembly (Parliament), will leave power with the frustration of not having been able to forge the vision of the country that he planned, on everything in the legal scaffolding to attract investment.
The strategy of the outgoing ruler, banker by tradewas oriented towards neoliberal policies that collided with the resistance of social groups, especially indigenous people, and the brake of a National Assembly dominated by the opposition.
Eight candidates have registered to succeed Lasso in the Presidency and among them are two that could lead a reversal process of the neoliberal strategy and make a left turn.
are the candidate Luisa Gonzalezfrom the progressive movement Revolucion Ciudadana, led by former President Rafael Correa (2007-2017), and leftist and environmentalist Yaku Perezof the “Claro que se puede” coalition, where left-wing groups, indigenous organizations, unions, teachers and environmentalists.
The other candidacies placed center to right open the possibility that the changes are more moderate and Ecuador keep the line sustained for the last six years.
Entrepreneurs could be located in this trend Xavier Hervas (RETO) and Daniel Noboa (ADN)the former vice president Otto Sonnenholzner (Let’s Take Action), The Security Expert Jan Topic (Country Without Fear), the independent lawyer Bolivar Armijos (Friend) and the journalist Christian Zurita (Build).
The ecological axis
That is why it is difficult to speak openly about the possibility that Ecuador already joins the turn to the left that has materialized in other processes such as in Brazil, Bolivia, Chile and Colombia, according to what sociologist and professor Noleon Saltos told EFE.
For him, left and right definition is blurredabove all because the first has abandoned central themes such as the cital-labour struggle.
Regardless of who is elected next Sunday, the orientation of the main debate in the country will be marked by environmental proposals that will be submitted to a plebiscite in parallel to the presidential and legislative elections, Santos estimates.
Despite the differences, almost all the presidential candidates have ratified that they will support the plebiscite that seeks leave the oil underground of Block 43-ITT, located within the Yasuni National Park, which is considered the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon jungle and one of the largest biosphere reserves on the planet.
“The turnaround may be there, in the ecological proposals” that are gaining strength in the political debate in Ecuador and throughout the region, says the sociologist.
an ephemeral government
The indigenous movement, academic sectors, artists, professional unions, social and union groups have expressed their support for the “Yes” vote in the referendum.
In any case, the next government it will only be transitionalsince it will only last seventeen months.
And it is that the president or president who is elected at the polls will assume a position next November that will hold until May 2025after completing Lasso’s term, which was interrupted by the “crusader death”, a constitutional mechanism with which he dissolved the Assembly when the Legislature was preparing to vote on his dismissal.
This transition period could open an initial space for ideological definitions in the face of regional integration processes, such as those promoted by the president of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, or his Colombian colleague Gustavo Petro.
Also from the orbit of the Mexican president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, with whom the possibility of a more Latin American progressive bloc opens, concludes Professor Noleon Saltos.
EFE
Source: Clarin
