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Thousands March in Ecuador to Protest Government Policies
President Rafael Correa Said Protesters Seek to Destabilize Government
ENL
Thousands of people march in Quito to protest the government of Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa.
Agence France-Presse/Getty Image
Members of Ecuador’s labor unions and civic organizations and indigenous peoples took part in the march, which was organized by the United Workers Front, to demand changes to what they call “authoritarian attitudes” of the government.
“This is a strong mobilization showing the government there is a need for dialogue, reflection and changes,” said Mesias Tatamuez, one of the union leaders. “We are asking for a change in the direction of the government.”
Mr. Correa has said the marchers are looking to destabilize his government and that labor reforms seek to ensure job security and stop layoffs, among other things.
But union leaders said the government is looking to divide them by creating new government-dependent organizations and undermine their rights, especially to strike.
The protesters are also rejecting proposed constitutional amendments that would open the door for indefinite re-election of Mr. Correa.
For the reforms to be approved, they will need to be debated twice in the National Assembly, with the second debate taking place one year after the first. The first debate is expected to in the coming weeks.
Alianza Pais, the ruling party, controls 100 of the 137 seats in the National Assembly.
Political analysts said there is little doubt that Mr. Correa will run for office again.
Mr. Correa took office in early 2007 and promptly engineered a new constitution that allowed for his re-election. He won a second four-year term in a snap election in 2009 and a third term last year to govern Ecuador until 2017.
Last Saturday, in Guayaquil in front of thousands of supporters where he presented his plan to reform the labor code, Mr. Correa said that Ecuador faces difficult times, adding that “we have to be prepared to defend our revolution.”
Protesters gathered at the Plaza de San Francisco in downtown Quito Wednesday as well as in other cities, asking for the government to respect democracy.
“We want democracy, and respect for human rights and for the constitution. We want dialogue, but we can’t accept authoritarian policies,” Mr. Tatamuez said.
Write to Mercedes Alvaro at mercedes.alvaro@wsj.com
