Ecuadors Presidents 2

8/17/2019 Ecuadors Presidents 2

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Ecuador has come in the focus of world interest during last couple of years due to the

international engagement of Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa. World known political

magazine represented Rafael Correa as a fresh face of South American politics, a man that use

oil reserves to keep social staility and to easy maneuver internal political situation in Ecuador.

!economist.com".

Watching from historical perspective and regarding political solutions, presidents Alfaro

and Correa are symols of political life in Ecuador. #oth are left$winged, in relation to social

staility, of course with differences that occur due to time differences and o%ective

circumstances. Alfaro has declared himself to e radically lieral, while Correa claims to e a

Christian leftist, ut many see him as radical left. &any consider him a successor to 'ugo

Chavez, as the leader of anti $ American lieralism in the areas of (atin America

!economist.com"

)rom the political perspective, last few decades leftist ideologies are on the rise in soil of

the South American continent. *ew political reality in the last few decades in (atin America is

that dominate regimes that are moderate or radical left. +he eceptions are Colomia, Chile and

Central America area, where in most countries the governments are formed y the right$wing

parties. *ot long ago, the Roman Catholic Church refuses to withdrawn from Ecuador which

caused (ieral Revolution -/0. Reform conducted y 1resident Alfaro cost him his life.

2ournalist 3rey 3randing wrote aout that. *ow, president Correa is in a similar situation due to

the large and powerful opposition that counteract to his ways of social structure !thenation.com"


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Similar political situation preceded the arrival of oth the president to power. 3eneral

Alvaro came to power at the end of the -/ th century when Ecuador is shaken y economic,

cultural and social crisis. Almost identical thing happened with the coming to power of Rafael

Correa. Ecuador is, during nineties fell into serious financial prolems !wsws.org"

Alfaro4s situation is different ecause he was a radical lieral and president of the Radical

(ieral party. +o minimize the influence of Roman Catholic Church, Alfaro was more willing to

cooperate with 5SA !fmartinez.net". +he ultra$conservative government with 1resident 3ariel

&oreno was also against Alfaro. +he church wanted to keep possessions and influence ut

Alfaro wanted secularization. +he 3reat (ieral Revolution in Ecuador happened in -/0, when

Eloy Alfaro officially came to power !uenastareas.com"

Rafael Correa is in a similar situation, as was Alfaro more than -66 years ago. 7n his

campaign he promised a new 8ourgeois revolution9. 'e also warned that it would investigate

suspicious elite, alluding to his main political opponent, rival Alvaro *ooa. 'e also promised a

review of the ownership structure of natural and industrial resources in Ecuador. After the

proclamation of the Constitution in :66, president Correa started the process of changing the

&ining (aw. +his law was declared in -/0, when started era of mining in Ecuador. 7n some

countries in region, such are Columia and 1eru, that system, in cooperation with ig foreign

companies, is functioning really well !ucla.com".

Correa, in one media conference, called those who oppose eploitation of natural

resources 8childish9. 'e added that he won4t allow eploitation of natural resources without

taking care of environment. 1assing the &ining (aw in 1arliament was cause for a lot of riots,

especially among natives. +hey were afraid that someone else will take their %os !iid".

7t is famous his statement made in the interview 2ulian Assange ; As Evo Morales said,

the only state that can be sure that coup will not happen are the United States - because they


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have no US embassy. !aisoflogic.com"'e took over the control of the only 5S military ase in

South America< the ase Americans get from the previous government for a period of -6 years.

7n this, we clearly see his difference from Alfaro who thinks of the 5nited States as a country,

where is ruled y human rights, the principle of separation of powers and secularization. Alfaro

had such a position ecause in Ecuador there was not secularization ecause of the dominance of

Roman Catholic Church in political, social and religious spheres of society !#ecker, -= > -/"

Alfaro came to power after the (ieral Revolution and Correa in the :66= elections.

(ieral Revolution many consider as the true irth of Ecuador, as a modern state, thanks to

changes that followed. ?uring his reign, many processes were finished; estalishing of the asic

principles of civil society, proclaiming freedom of religion and starting of the secularization. 7t

egins with the separation of the church from the state and society. 1rocess of secularization

estalished civil rights and freedom that was not eisted prior to revolution. +he most important

was freedom of speech and freedom of religion. !7id. -= $-/"

While Alfaro@s principal opponent was the Roman Catholic Church, Correa4s opponent is

the 5SA. 7n his campaign, he primarily advocates 8Socialism for the :-st Century9, a uniue

ideology in South America. +his ideology is characterized y great social grants from state and

critic of the neo$lieralism. !gloalresearch.ca". 7t implies political staility, regional integration

and connectivity, as well as economic reconstruction !Conaghan and de la +orre, :B6 > :B"

#oth presidents start from the eginning ecause it is necessary to convert many years of

stagnation in progress, despite strong opposition in the nation and outside. While Alfaro uild

everything in the country from the eginning, such are estalishment of institutions of civil state,

secularization, estalishment of human rights and reduction of poverty, !#ecker -= > -/"

Correa called for the reform of the oil industry. 'e resented moves of his predecessors in

monetary policy and attachment to the 5S dollar, ecause after economic crises in the late

nineties, Ecuadorian government decided to take 5S dollar for official currency. !#eittel, ="


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*ative Ecuadorians live in the territory of Ecuador for centuries. With the arrival of

Europeans, they situation changed and they got into an unenviale position even though they are

an important factor of Ecuadorian society. +he most populous group is Duechuas who make up

over /6 of the native population. #oth presidents realize their importance on time.

Alfaro insisted on national unity and improving of native4s life. &ark #ecker wrote aout

this. +his is the reason for proclamation of 1atronage (aw in -/B !#ecker, -B" which regulated

the concertaje. 7t was a special social system that reigned in Ecuador efore the reforms of

3eneral Alfaro. +his system is taken from the 7ncas and meant that 7ndians have to work one

year in pulic works. +hey were paid poorly and often they were in dets so they needed to

continue to work for masters after one year. (countrystudies.us"

+he workers, of which the ma%ority was native Ecuadorian, were in the unenviale

position while the system was active. +hey were %ust pawns on the farm of their osses or

patrons. +hey were living with their families on some others property. 7t was practically slavery.

+hey were never paid, ecause the farm owners paid for their asic necessities such as #aptisms,

weddings and funerals. Fwner also had the right to imprison workers if they did not pay taes.

After the death of the head of household, his det has eceeded to his closest relatives. *atives

came directly to the president when they had prolems with their landlords, and the government

of 3eneral Alfaro finally put to stop this practice !#ecker -=".Get reforms that Alfaro egan that

are referring to the 7ndian uestion did not fully succeed, and this is caused protests in the

twenties of the :6th century. Reforms did not succeed ecause Alfaro was unale to solve poverty

prolem in such short period of time. Same thing happened to president Correa -66 years later.

Correa also realizes the importance of Ecuadorian natives. ?uring the presidential

campaign, he came in contact with them ecause in his youth, he learned the language Duichuas.

'e said it himself after inauguration. !gregpalast.com" According to researches, that rought him

the significant numer of votes. 'e later mentions natives in the Constitution of :66.


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#oth Ecuadorian presidents won elections couple of times. +he elections were declared

regular even though Correa was accused to y social peace and votes using social grants

!economist.com". Alfaro had a reak in the presidency of five years at the eginning of the :6 th

century, and Correa is elected for a third term in :6-H. +he eginning of the presidency of

3eneral Alfaro is marked with dealing with poor population in Ecuador !Colloredo$&ansfeld

:H: $:H0". 7n -/=, he declares the Social Welfare 2unta that addresses to poor. 'e helped the

poor y giving those people epropriated properties that once elonged to Roman Catholic

Church, corrupted riches and politicians !#ecker, -= > -/"

Correa takes similar steps. 1overty was the greatest prolem in Ecuadorian society. 'e

takes the measures to reduce the difference etween the poorest and richest. At the time of his

coming to power, the wealthiest earned times more than the poor. 'is measures decrease

difference y 06 in only B years !gregpalast.com". Social situation of the poorest segments of

society during the Alfaro4s reign also get etter, thanks to social enefits and transfer of

ownership of the property that once elonged to church !#ecker, -= > -/"

#oth presidents knew aout the importance of education and schooling. Even though

education in Ecuador was uite well efore his coming to power, Correa is really dedicated to

this task. 7dea that is a guide for him is that knowledge is the most powerful weapon in the fight

against poverty. 'e raised many schools and institutions of education. Correa4s administration is

successful in raising school attendance from /: to /= and engaging in the educational system

more than - million people. 7t should e noted that social spending during the Correa presidency

increased from H.= in :66= to -- in :6-. !Weig"

1resident Correa wanted to strengthen the national unity and improve economic situation.

'e strongly opposed the 7&) and other institutions for which he claimed that are the one to

lame for the economic situation in the country and the financial crisis. 'e re$negotiated

concessions on large pro%ects related to state usiness, and industrial giants and managed to get


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etter sales conditions. Something similar done 1resident Alfaro, when he ordered

nationalization of the church property. +hese activities are in the spirit of civil society, which he

announced. 7n -/6, Religious (aw is rought that referred to the epropriation of church

property.

As in all of (atin America, in Ecuador religion played a great role. Especially in the

period after Ecuador gained independence. 1resident Alfaro took a clear stance in the spirit of

civil society, lieral democracy and human rights. 'e parted with religion in desire to reduce her

impact in Ecuador. 'e introduced the regular civil marriage and divorce, and during the second

mandate promulgated the (aw of charity, where he gave church property to pulic institutions

!fmartinez.net". Alfaro removed the an that refers to the operation of 1rotestantism in the

territory of Ecuador. ?ue to the great power the Roman Catholic Church had in Ecuador, with

the support of government, it also had an asolute right to religious activities. Fther religious

communities are hyped as satanic and they were not allowed to work. +hey are not ale to

develop missionary activity, or to perform religious rituals !fmartinez.net"

Rafael Correa is different in this point from the 1resident Alfaro. 'e repeatedly declared

in pulic as a humanist and Christian Socialists. )or his views, especially on the issue of

aortion and other topics related to religious ethics, he received praise from representatives of

religious communities. Archishop of 3uayauil called his efforts worthy of praise in every

sense, as is officially confirmed y Iatican portal. !news.va". 7t is more evidence that

Christianity could agrees with etreme left ideologies in (atin America and not necessarily

contradict them. 7n some ways this is logical, ecause Christianity in his ase is deeply related to

faith and social ideology, which Correa uses in his political actions. 'e said he would resign if a

law allowing aortion passes. #y this, he is completely different from Eloy Alfaro

7t is a custom for new government to adopt a new constitution, especially after the great

revolutions and changes. +hat was the case with 1resident Alfaro and the current president of


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Ecuador, Rafael Correa. +heir constitutions are different regarding contents, ut oth represent

reform.

?uring the Alfaro4s presidency, two constitutions are rought, first in the eginning of

-/B, and the other at end of -/6=. Rafael Correa adopted a constitution in :66. Correa@s

present Constitution, in certain provisions, ratified Rights of *ature. +his Constitution is

principally oriented towards environmental protection and manufacturing of healthier food.

#asically, he in clever way ecludes the impact of foreign companies and organizations over

natural resources in Ecuador.

Alfaro4s --th Constitution of Ecuador is a civil and lieral, truly in the spirit of change

that followed his rise to power. 'e officially confirmed achievements of (ieral Revolution that

occurred two years ago. With this Constitution, officially are proclaimed freedom of religion,

freedom of elief, as one of the fundamental human rights and freedoms. 7t aolished the death

penalty, which still eists in many countries. And what is perhaps his most important

contriution is that he eualized all in front of the law. #efore this Constitution, many social

categories factually were unprotected and eposed to the mercy of various circumstances,

especially the natives.

7t is important to emphasize that the Alfaro4s Constitution guaranteed free education for

all. 'e overturned any suventions for schools and classes that are not conducted under the

auspices of the municipality or the state. 7n addition, the Constitution repealed any form of

hereditary position and hereditary privilege as an achievement of the previous regime. Also, the

Constitution of -/0 declared the freedom of conscience and gave foreigners the same rights as

citizens of Ecuador within the legal system !countrystudies.us"

Alfaro pause the presidency for almost 0 years, to ecome president again in -/6=<

Rafael Correa won elections convincingly in the :66/. After several decades, it is the first time


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that Ecuador received re$elected president, which was not the case in previous years.

!notmytrie.com".+he second mandate of 3eneral Eloy Alfaro was much more active and

prosperous than the first, ut he had to cope with a large numer of disgruntled opponents.

Similar situation eist in the first two years in office of 1resident Correa. 'e takes the

steps against impact of foreign companies, emodied in environmental policy !)itz$'enry, -".

)oreign companies were foridden to do usiness if they do not meet the strict regulations set y

the government of Ecuador. 'e manages to reform higher education ut also met the first ma%or

riots instigated y the miners. +his has led to a serious crisis.

7n his second term, 1resident Alfaro continued where he started in the first term. 'e

continued with the construction of pulic schools, instigated a civil or secular education and

worked actively for the estalishment of a civil society. 'is ma%or work is the construction of a

railroad from 3uayauil to Duito in a length of over 66 km in order to reduce poverty and link

the two most important cities in the state, Duito, which is in the Andes and 3uayauil, which

represent the most significant port.

?ue to the pronounced poverty that prevailed in Ecuador, it turns out that the railway was

etremely epensive. 7t was profitale only twice, in :6 and 6 years of the :6 th century, ut its

significance is far greater when viewed from the perspective of national unity. After the

construction of the railway it was much easier to connect the population economically, culturally,

and politically.

'e continued with the policy of comating the influence of the Roman Catholic Church

and the confiscation of church property.


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Within a fragile democracy or sudden political changes often happens sharp and violent

social unrest. Society as such is not ready for the sudden change< the successful completion of

the transition process usually lasts for several years, even decades. 1resident Alfaro is paid

creation of a modern, democratic state with his life. 1resident Correa was in a similar situation

many times.

Eloy Alfaro has incurred the wrath of the Roman Catholic Church and the ig capitalists

and corrupt politicians from the previous time. *ot only that, the 1resident Alfaro was unale to

control large$scale crisis in which ended Ecuador after the great (ieral Revolution. +he poorest

strata of society are epecting rapid progress and change of their social situation. Since 1resident

Alfaro could do not provide them enefits as fast as they had epected, they soon aandoned

him. +he opponents were trying to create chaos in society that would generate discontent. When

he left the army, he lost his main lever for controlling power which he possessed.

After returning from eile in 1anama, Alfaro was kidnapped and imprisoned. +he group

of criminals roke into the prison where he was detained with his supporters and killed president

Alfaro !3aeleano, :"

)irst time 1resident Correa met with dissatisfy circles of society is in :6-6, when police

protested. 2ournalist Sara (iana reported aout this event. &ain roads were locked and normal,

day to day process could not take place. Correa was negotiating with them, ut instead of making

a deal, he was taken hostage y the police. Correa declared a state of emergency and was saved

y the army. !csmonitor.com"

Eloy Alfaro is creator of a modern Ecuador. After many years, he introduced a legal

framework for the creation of a modern civil society in which society is separate from the


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church. 'e introduced the asic principles of rights and freedoms. +he law covered all citizens of

Ecuador and insisted on educating the population.

Rafael Correa is more radical, more socialist than lieral, Christian and young leader. 'e

is one of the harshest critics of the 3overnment of the 5nited States in the world, protector of

whistlelowers and the successor of 'ugo Chavez. Even though he managed to regain control of

natural resources !oil, gas ...", to reduce poverty, to invest in education and infrastructure, he is

under great pressure. &any times, not %ust from Ecuadorian media, came accusation that he is

controlling media in order to remove critics !panampost.com". 1ressure is so ig that in a couple

of occasions it could result in his death.

Bibliography

3aleano, Eduardo, Fpen Ieins of (atin America, &onthly Review 1ress,

-/B-, p:


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Ecuadors Presidents 2

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