RE: “El ‘absurdo’ que pasó a ser una ‘solicitud’ de reelección indefinida.”

Dear Editor,

Please allow me to submit the following letter in response to the May 24 article and ongoing story, “El ‘absurdo’ que pasó a ser una ‘solicitud’ de reelección indefinida.”

Last Saturday, May 24, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa said he would back the introduction of a constitutional amendment allowing him, and other officials, to run for re-election indefinitely. The article emphasizes the radical change of position since Correa’s first term of office, noting the various instances in which the Ecuadorian President defended a limited term in office. Nevertheless, Correa describes the introduction of the amendment as an attempt to guard and continue the progress he has achieved during his seven years in office. Moreover, Correa has stressed his proposed amendment to the constitution does not entail his immediate candidacy for reelection—such a decision would be left to his political party, Alianza Pais. Although the article thoroughly examined Correa’s position on office terms, it fails to address any actual progress that can be credited to Correa’s administration, such as Ecuador’s 4.5 percent average annual GDP growth since 2007. Such statistics may point to why so many citizens continue to back President Correa, and why he has been the only Ecuadorian president in the past two decades to complete his presidential office term.

Sincerely,

Albaro Tutasig Research Associate at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs

In response to El Universo article “El ‘absurdo’ que pasó a ser una ‘solicitud’ de reelección indefinida.”

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