Ecuador's Correa pledges radical changes

[arcos]

Ecuador's Correa pledges radical changes

<snip>

Correa, 43, won Ecuador's November election runoff as a charismatic outsider who pledged to lead a "citizens' revolution" against a political establishment widely seen as corrupt and incompetent.

He says his first act as president will be to call a national referendum on a special assembly to rewrite the constitution - something he says is vital to limiting the power of the traditional parties that he blames for the country's problems.

<snip>

Some worry that Correa will use the assembly to strengthen presidential power. But he says his reforms aim to make elected officials more accountable, including having congressmen represent districts instead of being elected in a national vote. He supports allowing all elected officials to be recalled.

His view that Ecuador's democratic system benefits parties, not people, attracted voters disgusted with the corruption and greed of the political elite. More than 60 percent of Ecuadoreans live in poverty even though Ecuador is South America's fifth-largest oil producer.

<snip>

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/world/16460742.htm

[Joanne98]

1. Sounds like a good plan to me...

:)

[arcos]

2. It is a good plan, it is exactly what Ecuador needs...

And unlike Chávez, Correa doesn't seem obsessed with pissing the US off, which is something I love but that I wouldn't want in the President of my country. :P

[BayCityProgressive]

3. give it time

he will be branded a stalinist soon and half of the people here will parrot it...just like against Chavez, Castro, and Morales. He sides with those leaders and will enact similar reforms.

[arcos]

4. Not necessarily...

The cases of all these countries are different. Lula, Kirchner and Vásquez are also on the same side as Chávez and Morales, but their reforms have been much more moderate, yet clearly progressive. I think Correa will be in between the two styles.