Ecuador: Constituent Assembly President Steps Down


Alberto Acosta while acting as Energy Minister, picture reproduced under conditions of Secretaría General de la Comunidad Andina.

President Rafael Correa has managed to remain in power no matter his popularity among Latin American presidents. He sits in the 5th position and internally in Ecuador there still is a considerable number of people who have started to feel defrauded by the motto, La Patria ya es de todos (The country belongs to everyone now).

Correa has been criticized by many for his personal and political conduct, but what is most important is that he doesn't tolerate the mistakes of others and is quick to react. One of his number one concerns has been the push to have the new Constitution, now being debated and discussed in the Constituent Assembly, be approved by July 24. However, the president of the Assembly and member of Correa's own political party Alberto Acosta, recently announced that he was stepping down as President. Ecuadoran bloggers soon began to discuss the resignation and wondered about the true reasons behind the decision, and how much the pressure was placed by Correa. They also wonder who might fill Acosta's shoes and what that means for the Assembly.

Rubén Darío Buitron [es] thinks PAIS (Correa's political party) has set its sights on increased power.

El anuncio dejó más dudas que certezas: cuando Acosta dijo que no quiere ser “responsable de un atropello” o que no está de acuerdo “con sacrificar el debate a cambio de la premura de los tiempos”, abrió lecturas adicionales a su reiterado mensaje de que no hay crisis en PAIS y que “esa es la manera democrática de resolver una polémica”.
[…]
¿Ganó Correa este primer round? En apariencia, sí, pero no necesariamente: la renuncia o el “minigolpe de Estado” que, por confesión del propio Acosta, le dio la cúpula de PAIS al pedirle que se retirara de la presidencia, reveló públicamente lo que muchos ecuatorianos vienen percibiendo hace tiempo: el presidente de la República y el grupo que lo rodea, capitaneado por Vinicio Alvarado, tienen su propio proyecto de poder.

The announcement left more questions than certainties: Acosta has said he doesn't want to be “responsible for such a mess” or that disagrees “with sacrificing debate in exchange for the time constraints,” he also opened new interpretations to his repeated message that there is no crisis in PAIS and that “It is the democratic way to resolve a controversy.”
[…]
Did Correa win this first round? In appearance, yes, but not necessarily: the resignation or “coup d'etat” that Acosta, by his own confession, was asked by PAIS to step down from the presidency and publicly revealed what many Ecuadorans have been sensing: that the President of the Republic and the group around him led by Vinicio Alvarado, have their own plan for power.

As expected, the resignation has been already accepted and among the possible candidates for the new president are names like: César Rodríguez, Aminta Buenaño, María Paula Romo and Fernando Cordero, who is a controversial figure. El Federalista [es] tells Ecuadorans what will happen if Cordero becomes the new Assembly President:

Sin duda ahora la Asamblea Constituyente marchará más rápido aprobando cada desacierto gubernamental sin discusión, sin al menos el diálogo aparente, con todo y faltas de ortografía, mala redacción y el abuso lingüístico del “todos y todas” en cada párrafo. Para ello Fernando Cordero se prestará diligente para que “llegue, sumíllese y apruébese” cada papelote que llegue de Carondelet, y si no es Cordero será otro (“otro u otra”). Si la Asamblea Nacional Constituyente ya era imitación del peor de los congresos, hoy será peor, una vulgar secretaría del gobierno que baje la cabeza y alce la mano. Qué vergüenza, si es que cabe más.

Surely now the Constituent Assembly will proceed faster by passing each government error without any discussions. It would at least pass the articles without dialogue, including everything with misspellings, poor wording, and an abuse of language in each paragraph. To do so, Fernando Cordero will diligently work so that each instructive from Carondelet (the Presidential palace) will “arrive, be signed and approved,” and if it's not Cordero it will be another. If the National Constituent Assembly was already an imitation of the worst aspects of Congress, today it will be even worse, due to a vulgar secretariat of the government who lowers the head and raises the hand. What a shame, to say the least.

Very few have questioned the tenure of the former Assembly President, and even a few still think “el cargo le quedó muy grande” [es] (the role was to big for him). La Hueca [es] doesn't want to accept the reality of political affairs and still has doubts that Alberto Acosta really should drop his seat:

Esta si que no me la venía venir ni en sueños, que Don Alberto renuncie. Este si es un golpe duro, por supuesto si es que se da; a la Asamblea Constituyente; Don Alberto creo es la única persona del Oficialismo capaz de unir y concensuar todas las ideas y proyectos de la nueva constitución.

Aunque digan lo contrario esto fortalecerá el NO ya que diga lo que se diga la renuncia de Don Alberto se debe a diferencias entre nuestro Presidente Rafael Correo y Don Alberto Acosta.

Mr. Alberto's regignation is something that did not see coming, not even in my wildest dreams. And this is a tough blow, of course, if it occurs, to the Constituent Assembly; I believe that Mr. Alberto is the only person capable of uniting and bringing together all of the ideas and proposals for the new Constitution.

Although they will say the opposite this will only strengthen the NO (vote for the Constitution) no matter what is said. Mr. Alberto's resignation is due to differences between our President Rafael Correa and Mr. Alberto Acosta.

As it's being said this is only the first part of a political drama in which main director is President Correa, let's keep an eye of what's happening in Ecuador especially now that someone who was considered to be capable of briging together the diverse policial parties is now out. Some of his colleages had presented support for Acosta and they are representative of the population at large, such as Monica Chiji and Rafael Stevez [es], both are of the opinion his resignation shouldn't be accepted.

1 comment

  • Dear One,

    I am Mrs.nancy johnson from Benin.I am married to Late Chief johnson kata of blessed memory who is an oil explorer in senegal malaysia and Kuwait for twelve years before he died We were married for sixteen years without a child.He died after abrief illness
    that lasted for only four days.Before his death we were both devoted Christian. Since his death I too have been battling with both Cancer and fibroid problems. When my late Husband was alive he deposited the sum of $10.5million (Ten Million, Five Hundred thousand U.S Dollars) with a Finance Company.

    Recently,my doctor told me that I have only Eigty months to live due to cancer problem. Though what disturbs me most is my stroke sickness.Having known my condition I
    decided to donate this fund to either a Christian organization or devoted Christian individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instructs herein. I want this Christian organization or individual to use this money in all sincerity to fund orphanages, widows, and also propagating the word of GOD and to ensure that the society upholdsthe views
    and belief of the Holy Bible.

    The Holy Bible emphasizes so much on GOD benevolence and this has encourage me to take the bold step.I took this decision because I don’t have any child that will inherit this money and my husband elatives are UNBELIVERS converts and I don’t ant a situation where this money will be used in an unholy manner.Hence the reasons for this bold
    decision. I know that after death I will be with GOD he most beneficent and themost merciful. I don’t need ny telephone communication in this regard because of y health, because of the presence of my husband’s elatives around me always. I don’t want them to know bout this development. With GOD all things are possible.

    I shall give you the contact information of the finance Company and the country in oversea where the money was deposited. I will also issue a letter of authority to the Finance Company authorizing them that the said fund Have being willed to you and a copy of such
    authorization will be forwarded to you. I want you and the CHRISTIAN community where you reside to always pray for me. My happiness is that I lived a true devoted Christian worthy of emulation. Whoever that wants to serve GOD must serve him in truth and in fairness.

    Please always be prayerful all through your life.Any delay in your reply will give room in sourcing for a Christian organization or a devoted Christian for this same purpose.

    Until I hear from you, my dreams will rest squarely on your shoulders.May the Almighty GOD continue to guide and protect you.
    Regards,
    Mrs nancy johnson kata

Cancel this reply

Join the conversation -> mrs .nancy johnson

Authors, please log in »

Guidelines

  • All comments are reviewed by a moderator. Do not submit your comment more than once or it may be identified as spam.
  • Please treat others with respect. Comments containing hate speech, obscenity, and personal attacks will not be approved.