n 2020, Ecuador's ex-president Lenín Moreno announced his break from Ecuadorian politics and decided not to seek re-election on February 7th. This announcement created an interesting political situation for Ecuador, as no incumbent will be running for the nation's highest office this coming April 2021. Without an incumbent present for the 2021 election and no political party in power, other Ecuadorian political parties rallied to place their top candidate on the ballot.
On February 7th, 2021, the primaries confirmed that only two candidates remain in the running for the Ecuadorian presidency out of sixteen. Thirty-one-year-old Liberal economist Andres Arauz and sixty-five-year-old conservative banker Guillermo Lasso will be representing the Ecuadorian people and the UNES and the CREO parties, respectively. Apart from differing beliefs on economic reform, fiscal spending, welfare, and foreign policy, the central separation between the two remaining candidates lies in their stance against ex-president Rafael Correa, his anti-democracy policies, and his authoritarian control of the country.
Lasso's and the CREO party's apprehension towards Arauz lie in Correa's connection to Arauz's party UNES and Correa's past bid to run alongside Arauz. In 2018, after Correa's expulsion from Ecuadorian politics due to kidnapping charges, the Ecuadorian people passed a referendum to limit future presidential terms. The new limit on presidential terms denied Correa the ability to run for office again.
Recently, Arauz's candidacy and his party UNES have been linked to Correa. Correa's influence in Arauz's team highlights the ex-president's presence and power in Ecuadorian politics, even from his home in Belgium. Arauz is riding upon Correa's still present political movement and support. Like Correa, Arauz's policies hope to bring back the 2010s era of reducing poverty rates and inequality throughout the country while also providing an increase in global trade. Arauz's opponents, oftentimes Correa's as well, are likely to denounce the linkage between the two and continue their avid support of Lasso.
Correa's influence in Arauz's candidacy is not the only thing splitting Ecuador's politics. Moreno's attacks on democracy, his establishment of austerity measures, and his extremely inadequate response to the COVID-19 pandemic severely damaged the President's approval ratings.
Moreno's critics are apprehensive about his past vocal opposition towards Correa and Moreno's keen pressure to block Correa from returning to politics. Although Moreno was successful in hindering Correa's return in 2018, his rampant attack on Correa's party ostracized Correa's "Correaistas" throughout Ecuador. However, in a democratic retaliation, Correaistas rallied in 2020. As August 2020 polls confirmed, Correistas' rallying demonstrates how vivid the continuing support for Correa, or "Correismo," is within Ecuador's politics. In 2021 Correismo is inherently funding Arauz's strong run for President this coming April.
While Lasso does bring in a more conservative policy mindset, and he represents the moderate and right-leaning portion of Ecuadorian politics, the presidential election is proving to be a judgment on Moreno's past policies and Correa's "Correismo" rather than an actual political contest between the views and policies of Lasso versus Arauz.
Ecuador's 2021 election supposedly allows for a clean slate and genuine political representation. Yet, the constant struggle and discontent between separate political ideologies make such a clean slate unachievable for the country. The presidential election must be a move towards linear and empathic political unity. Without unity and a well-directed political coalition, the government will be unsuccessful in combating a stagnant economy and the ever-present COVID-19 pandemic. Arauz and Lasso must find a political middle ground and support their constituents' needs. Whoever is elected to lead Ecuador needs to be ready to rapidly address the country's failing economy, the continuous over-arching impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the inherent distrust in the country's government after years of corruption scandals and attacks on democracy.
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Ecuador’s Need for Empathetic Political Unity
Photo by Chandler Hilken via Unsplash.
March 5, 2021
I
n 2020, Ecuador's ex-president Lenín Moreno announced his break from Ecuadorian politics and decided not to seek re-election on February 7th. This announcement created an interesting political situation for Ecuador, as no incumbent will be running for the nation's highest office this coming April 2021. Without an incumbent present for the 2021 election and no political party in power, other Ecuadorian political parties rallied to place their top candidate on the ballot.
On February 7th, 2021, the primaries confirmed that only two candidates remain in the running for the Ecuadorian presidency out of sixteen. Thirty-one-year-old Liberal economist Andres Arauz and sixty-five-year-old conservative banker Guillermo Lasso will be representing the Ecuadorian people and the UNES and the CREO parties, respectively. Apart from differing beliefs on economic reform, fiscal spending, welfare, and foreign policy, the central separation between the two remaining candidates lies in their stance against ex-president Rafael Correa, his anti-democracy policies, and his authoritarian control of the country.
Lasso's and the CREO party's apprehension towards Arauz lie in Correa's connection to Arauz's party UNES and Correa's past bid to run alongside Arauz. In 2018, after Correa's expulsion from Ecuadorian politics due to kidnapping charges, the Ecuadorian people passed a referendum to limit future presidential terms. The new limit on presidential terms denied Correa the ability to run for office again.
Recently, Arauz's candidacy and his party UNES have been linked to Correa. Correa's influence in Arauz's team highlights the ex-president's presence and power in Ecuadorian politics, even from his home in Belgium. Arauz is riding upon Correa's still present political movement and support. Like Correa, Arauz's policies hope to bring back the 2010s era of reducing poverty rates and inequality throughout the country while also providing an increase in global trade. Arauz's opponents, oftentimes Correa's as well, are likely to denounce the linkage between the two and continue their avid support of Lasso.
Correa's influence in Arauz's candidacy is not the only thing splitting Ecuador's politics. Moreno's attacks on democracy, his establishment of austerity measures, and his extremely inadequate response to the COVID-19 pandemic severely damaged the President's approval ratings.
Moreno's critics are apprehensive about his past vocal opposition towards Correa and Moreno's keen pressure to block Correa from returning to politics. Although Moreno was successful in hindering Correa's return in 2018, his rampant attack on Correa's party ostracized Correa's "Correaistas" throughout Ecuador. However, in a democratic retaliation, Correaistas rallied in 2020. As August 2020 polls confirmed, Correistas' rallying demonstrates how vivid the continuing support for Correa, or "Correismo," is within Ecuador's politics. In 2021 Correismo is inherently funding Arauz's strong run for President this coming April.
While Lasso does bring in a more conservative policy mindset, and he represents the moderate and right-leaning portion of Ecuadorian politics, the presidential election is proving to be a judgment on Moreno's past policies and Correa's "Correismo" rather than an actual political contest between the views and policies of Lasso versus Arauz.
Ecuador's 2021 election supposedly allows for a clean slate and genuine political representation. Yet, the constant struggle and discontent between separate political ideologies make such a clean slate unachievable for the country. The presidential election must be a move towards linear and empathic political unity. Without unity and a well-directed political coalition, the government will be unsuccessful in combating a stagnant economy and the ever-present COVID-19 pandemic. Arauz and Lasso must find a political middle ground and support their constituents' needs. Whoever is elected to lead Ecuador needs to be ready to rapidly address the country's failing economy, the continuous over-arching impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the inherent distrust in the country's government after years of corruption scandals and attacks on democracy.
