ECUADOR: Strong support for constitutional reforms as referendum campaigns wrap up

Record ID: 345150

  • Title: ECUADOR: Strong support for constitutional reforms as referendum campaigns wrap up
  • Date: 27th September 2008
  • Summary: (W3) GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR (SEPTEMBER 25, 2008) (REUTERS) ***NIGHTSHOTS*** VARIOUS OF THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS IN SUPPORT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES MAN HOLDING A SIGN IN SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT RAFAEL CORREA CORREA SINGING
  • Embargoed: 12th October 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ecuador
  • Country: Ecuador
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA9UB4ZG0NQTEOGM0OUIGCHFHJW
  • Story Text: Thousands of supporters of President Rafael Correa turn out for the closing campaign ahead of this weekend's national referendum on constitutional reform.
    Latest polls show that support remains high for the changes.
    Supporters of Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa wrapped up on Thursday (September 25) their campaign in support of this weekend's referendum on constitutional reforms.
    Thousands of supporters turned out in the western city of Guayaquil to cheer on Correa who led the final rally.
    "This is an election between a new model of society - based on the principles of solidarity, justice and well-being for all - and the same old," he said.
    Millions of Ecuadoreans will vote on Sunday (September 28) on a new constitution that, if approved, will tighten Correa's grip over Congress and top courts in the volatile Andean nation.
    If he wins the vote, foreign companies will face more state scrutiny and harsher terms to extract natural resources form the mineral-rich South American country of some 13 million people.
    The new rules would also give 45-year-old Correa control over monetary policy and allow him to run for re-election next year and again in 2013.
    Polls showed on Wednesday (September 24) support for the new constitution at 57 percent. Other polls showed 60 percent support, above the simple 50 percent majority needed to pass the 444-article document.
    President of the polling organization CEDATOS, Polibio Cordova, said the reforms' support stemmed largely from a disorganized opposition.
    "Correa has no competition. The opposition is an opposition without a leader, it is an opposition that doesn't have leaders - it doesn't have national leaders, it doesn't have provincial leaders, it doesn't have local leaders, it doesn't have rural leaders - and it is an opposition that doesn't show any organization," he said.
    Two days earlier, the opposition ended its campaign against the reforms.
    "This city has already lived through the "Yes" vote.
    It lived through Bucaram (referring to former Ecuadorean President Abdala Jaime Bucaram), it lived through the MPD (referring to Ecuador's largest far-left party) and it is living through a government that has not done anything," said Guayaquil Mayor Jaime Nebot, one of the opposition leaders.
    The new constitution is the centrepiece of the young president's promise of bringing change to a country that has lurched from one crisis to another and sent millions leaving for jobs in the United States and Europe.
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