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Martin Jaramillo / AP
Ecuador's President Rafael Correa, right, and running mate Jorge Glass celebrate in Quito on Sunday.
QUITO, Ecuador -- A landslide second re-election secured, President Rafael Correa immediately vowed to deepen the "citizen's revolution" that has lifted tens of thousands of Ecuadoreans out of poverty as he expanded the welfare state.
"In this revolution the citizens are in charge, not capital," the leftist U.S.-trained economist said after winning 56.9 percent of the vote Sunday against 23.8 percent for his closest challenger, longtime banker Guillermo Lasso.
With 57 percent of the vote counted, former President Lucio Gutierrez finished third with 6 percent. The remainder was divided among five other candidates. Lasso conceded defeat late Sunday.
The fiery-tongued Correa has brought surprising stability to an oil-exporting nation of 14.6 million with a history of unruliness that cycled through seven presidents in the decade before him.
With the help of oil prices that have hovered around $100 a barrel, he has raised lower-class living standards and widened the welfare state with region-leading social spending.
'Everything for you'
The 48-year-old Correa dedicated his victory to his cancer-stricken friend President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who some analysts have suggested he could succeed as the standard-bearer of Latin America's left.
"We are only here to serve you. Nothing for us. Everything for you," Correa told cheering supporters from the balcony of the Carondelet presidential palace Sunday shortly after polls closed.
Yet Correa has also drawn wide rebuke for intolerance of dissent and some analysts have questioned how sustainable his economic policies are. The number of people working for the government has burgeoned from 16,000 to 90,000 during Correa's current term if office, Ecuador's nongovernmental Observatory of Fiscal Policy reported in December.
Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue think tank, called Correa's ramping up of social spending "simply applying the standard recipe for many populist governments in the region." While it succeeds in building political support in the short term, he said, it is not clear whether it is sustainable.
And while Correa has shown himself to be the "undisputed rhetorical leader of Latin America's left" — and should now see his standing enhanced there — Shifter said Correa's consolidation of power have damaged Ecuador's "already precarious institutions" and he lacks the clout, the ambition and the coffers to build a coalition that could curtail U.S. power in the region.
Correa's result Sunday easily topped the 51.7 percent that he won in his first re-election in April 2009. He is barred by the constitution from another 4-year term.
Dolores Ochoa / AP
Supporters of Ecuador's President Rafael Correa celebrate his election victory in Quito on Sunday.
Since Correa took office in 2007, the United Nations says Ecuador's poverty rate has dropped nearly five percentage points to 32.4 percent. In all, 1.9 million people receive $50 a month in aid from the state. Critics complain that the handouts to single mothers, needy families and the elderly poor, along with other subsidies, have bloated the government.
Civil liberties, meantime, have suffered.
Correa has been widely condemned for using criminal libel law against opposition news media and for such strong-arm tactics as seizing Ecuador's airwaves virtually at will to spread his political gospel and attack opponents.
He has been unable to stop a growing sensation of vulnerability in a country where robberies and burglaries grew 30 percent in 2012 compared with the previous year.
The graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign gained an early reputation as a maverick, defying international financiers by defaulting on $3.9 billion in foreign debt obligations and rewriting contracts with oil multinationals to secure a higher share of oil revenues for Ecuador.
He has also kept the United States at arm's length while upsetting Britain and Sweden in August by granting asylum at the Ecuadorean Embassy in London to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, the online spiller of leaked U.S. government secrets who is wanted for questioning in Sweden for alleged sexual assault.
Correa has, meanwhile, cozied up to U.S. rivals Iran and China. The latter is the biggest buyer of Ecuador's oil and holds $3.4 billion in Ecuadorean debt, according to Finance Minister Patricio Rivera.
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Viva Correa! Another slap in the face of the imperialist cabal in Washington DC.
I'd be leery of lending to Ecuador if I were China, given they defaulted on their last debt. I also don't think it's in Ecuador's long-term interests to "cozy up" to rogue nations isolated by the international community.
Pure socialism doesn't work for long because it runs counter to human nature; if you're given things, you don't try as hard. It's the main reason the USSR collapsed. They tried to keep up with our spending while lacking the robust economy to do so. THAT's where real prosperity lies. Level the playing field for all and more people will rise to the occasion. Handouts only breed mediocrity for all.
Of course, if you're living in squalor, even mediocrity looks good. Ecuadorians may not feel as they do now in 50 years when their economy is dwarfed by countries who embrace individual success.
Indigena, you and your fellow supporters will suffer the consequences of dealing with China and your Latin American isolated partnerships. Keep buying inferior products from China and Paraguay as well as allowing the Chinese to hold $3.4 billion. The devil you know is better than the one you don't. Chavez, Castro and others. You will have wished you stayed with your Colombian brothers and others striving to join the 1st world. You reap what you sow. The imperialist (as you called us) will continue to go forward. Pay close attention to Wall Street if you can understand it.
I see he was educated in Illinois - near Chicago. How ironic. Perhaps he should heed Chavez's losing battle with cancer via Cuban medical care.
You use the term "educated" as though it's a microchip implant instead of a journey of discovery. But then again, I understand this difference well.There was a time when a university education was real and not preparation for a marketable resume. It's helpful to recall that the Milton Friedman school of economics also hails from Illinois-based university education.
I can't wait until US oil production rises, alternative energy rises, and oil drops like a stone. The people he pledges to serve will hang him from the first tree they can find. The entitlement society is a double edged sword.
LB I think you are confusing "entitlement society" where I have seen people use their food stamps and then get in a new escalde with real poverty. There is a huge difference.
Long Live Correa!!! Finally, Latin America slowly but surely extricates itself from the claws of US imperialism.
Another "new socialist" dictator hiding his Stalinist tail The dead Castro and Chavez.along with Morales in Bolivia have substituted for the military dictatorships in Latin America.And Cristina Kirschner is budy buddy with these tyrants.Civil rights and civil liberties are trampled and this is the true nature of these "populist " leaders.Very bad news for latin America!
Indeed it is. Socialism based on public sector service jobs is doomed if there is no private/commercial sector to support it.
So is unrestrained capitalism. Pure capitalism is likewise unsustainable, as the private/commercial sector without regulation will continue to crush it's citizens, upon which it must rely for labor and as a market for its goods.
The hard part is finding the balance whereby private citizens and commercial interests are allowed to succeed, and still be watchful of the rights the citizens need to maintain a reasonable chance to succeed as well.
They are all waving flags for him now. When oil revenues start to dry up, and the inherent corruption of the public sector comes to fruition, the cheering public will be the first to condemn him. Maybe a policy where every family doesn't need 6-8 kids might help, but that will piss off the Catholic Church.
Ecuador is a beautiful country. I wish them all the best. I think they still use US dollar as their currency.
I've been in Ecuador twice in the last 7 years (a total of 18 days). I have seen the beauty of the country & its people, and I have seen what real poverty looks like. The kind of poverty we in the USA have NO IDEA what it is like to endure.
I will never forget walking off the tourist trail along the river in Guayaquil. We turned toward the city & went 4 blocks off the river. People begging everywhere. They weren't allowed (by law) to go any closer to the river where the tourists spent their time. It was terrifying, and eye opening. No social net for the elderly. I will never forget the old woman (looked at least 80 years old) who never spoke a word, but merely stuck her arm out a few inches as I approached, to indicate she needed money. It was one of the saddest things I have seen in my entire life - bar none! The image will forever be burned in my mind.
In a way I am glad someone has come up with something to help people like this old woman. Maybe she wont have to beg any more - if she is still alive... But behind her were dozens more beggars with little hope...
Be careful not to confuse poverty in America with poverty in the third world. Their people in poverty drop dead every day from malnourishment. Ours get their cable cut off... We work for the weekend while they work to LIVE... We have social programs for the poor and elderly. As far as I know, Ecuador had NOTHING just a few years ago. So before we condemn this beautiful country and her people, and their elected President, consider where they are today vs. where we are... And consider where this nation was before SS, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, etc... There were reasons we implemented these programs, and there are reasons Ecuador is doing it today.
Good post, dude...
Concernedone:
While your comments are accurate, they are skewed by being centered on Guayaquil. I love both living in Ecuador and the Ecuadorian people, but refuse to ever go to Guayaquil again; it is one of the worst cities I have every been too. Poverty is horrible. Crime is rampant, although it is mostly robbery. Do not hail a cab off the street. Call for one or arrange for one with the establishment you are in. If you are robbed, the chance of physical harm is minimal if you cooperate.
In contrast, Quita and Cuenca are far more hospitable. Loja, where I live, is very traditional and tranquil. Smaller places, like Zaruma are amazing and often (but not always) free of crime. So, there is quite a variation across the country. Yes, poverty is a problem, but, unlike many first-world countries, where the concept of family has broken down, families here do help and support each other. As a westerner, I am constantly amazed and deeply touched by the generosity and kindness of the Ecuadorian people.
The situation here is improving slowly under Correa. Correa has done a lot to help the poor. But, I did not vote for him because of his actions toward the Shaur indians. He is now mining gold in their territory and threatening their sacred lands. Also, as the article points our, a lot of his actions are geared towards getting the support of the poor. But, these actions are not the most efficient use of resources to help the people.
Yes, please come to this beautiful country; your money is very welcome here. Food and a decent room can easily be found for under $40 a day. Transportation is remarkably cheap (no car necessary). But please stay away from Guayaquil. The coast is beautiful and mostly non-commercial. The other cities I mentioned are charming. If you visit the Andes (Quito or Cuenca, both heritage cities) be sure to bring warm clothes. It can be in the 40's (F) at night and there is no heating in the buildings. Although, the interior of the buildings is usually comfortable because the entire structure is concrete or brick (no wood) and this mass holds in the heat in the day.
Went to Ecuador and got mugged. The place has some natural beauty but it's a crime infested shtihole. Don't care about their politics, doubt the election will change anything. Stay away.
siempre esperamos - I spent a couple days in Cuenca. It was very cold! We stayed at a resort with a hot spring fed system of pools. Very nice. The town also seemed quite safe! Obviously much more money in Cuenca than other places!
We also visited a city on the slopes of Mt. Chimborazo, Riobamba. I remember several other things: 1. The Catholic Church building. 2. Being asked for money from 3 people. 3. The complexion of the indigenous peoples. 4. Armed guards at the important places - guards with what looked like M-16's stationed outside places like banks. 5. Cotopaxi! And finally, 6. Chimborazo itself!
The rides up from the low lands were absolutely beautiful - and terrifying!!!
I agree with Guayaquil & the situation there. I was there doing mission work & Guayaquil (actually Duran) was targeted as one place in need of CHANGE! When people can't see beyond the oppressive poverty that is their everyday life, they have a hard time lifting themselves out of their situation. We were there to help them help themselves! But at the same time, I had to wonder if we were tearing down the peoples at the same time...??? They cherish family in very special ways. It humbled us to see the love they had for each other.
You were on a "mission"? Good for you, man. Kudos to you for extending a helping hand to those poor people. As you said, whenever a post like this comes along, everybody jumps in to judge, calling them communists, stalinists, and so forth. As yourself, I too had the opportunity to be all over South America, and experienced the heart wrenching poverty first hand. I walked the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil distributing blankets to poor street children, as young as 2 years old, sleeping out in close to sub-zero temperatures. I saw little ones, and old ones begging desperately in Lima, for something to eat. Some looked like they really hadn't eaten in days. Similar experiences in Mexico, and so forth. The problem as you said, is that people here in the US have no clue what Third Word poverty looks, feels and smells like. Here poverty is not being able to afford the latest iPhone toy, or not having HBO. Poverty in the Third World will lead to your early death, through starvation, disease or a bullet. Sad, but true.
Hmm-mmm-mmm, he must have been taking lessons from Obama and the extreme Democrats of America. Ignorance is bliss.
That's impossible. Ecuador's poverty rate has fallen five points.
Denver bill 2, Impossible?? Who pays the bills after the government runs out of money ?? Lets wait and see who votes for him then and you and I will get to watch the riots and burning like what is happening in Greece!!
Sorry to burst your bubble, but the government is out of money. That's why the keep borrowing and printing it.
Speak for yourself... Your ignorance is showing.
Sounds like the same plan we used after the depression.
At some point you run out of other people's money.
At least Obama is doing it right ....
1. Get the press to voluntarily believe and promote the BS
2. Bankrupt the country and blame the opposition
3. Stock the supreme court with puppets
4. Fire up the class warfare line time and again...
BY 2016, it'll be easy to impose whatever he wants....
At least George Bush screwed us all ....
1. Get the press to voluntarily believe and promote the BS
2. Bankrupt the country and blame the opposition
3. Stock the supreme court with puppets
4. Fire up the class warfare line time and again...
Somehow your just not making any factual sense.
Hmmmmmm....
All hail king Obama!
Steve he is not making sense because you still think that there is a difference between republicans and democrats. I am going to let you in on a secret they are the same.
"is not clear if it is sustainable". It is not. It is a house of cards just like the other counties who have this system. Greece just one for example. You can not give to everyone when not everyone pays into the pot. Sooner rather than later, there are more to give to than the pot has funds.
It sounds good to the public, looks good on paper, all isms, Socialism, etc., except Capitalism, in the end they all end up like the former Soviet Union. It does not work any way you slice it.
Even China when you peel back the facade of Communism, the top officials are still getting the top of the pot that is full and the bottom are getting the drips that are left after the cream is skimmed off.
What is the next step to make it look like it is working, to fool the believers. Send another 30% of the bottom rung to another country like Singapore.
We can't do that, but, Obama is letting in another 30% of the worst of the people other counties do not want, and the average tax payer, not the top 20% are going to be supporting them in one way or another until there is no way we can not collapse under the weight of people who give nothing.
That is what happens when a country goes from Capitalism to Socialism as Obama and the Socialist liberal Democrats are taking us.
President Rafael Correa needs to enter the 21 century. Ecuador is still in the 19 century.
They are no longer part of the SOA, Fort Benning GA. That's a good start.
Correa is a lot smarter than Chavez. He may be "cozying up" to Iran, but the country is full of Israelis and Israeli companies, particularly in the booming agricultural sector. The local people know who is helping them, and it isn't Iran.
Ecuador is also becoming a popular destination for U.S. retirees. The country is beautiful, the food is great, the people are delightful. And for all Correa's yelling about the dangers of "capital", he has kept the U.S. dollar as Ecuador's currency. Don't see Chavez doing that.
You are spot on, Alan Dean Foster. I'm one of those Americans looking very closely at moving to Ecuador in 3 years. Correa is indeed smarter than Chavez. And Ecuador is moving ahead much quicker than Nicaragua, too. It has decent health care, wonderful people, and if it receives American's who are willing to learn the language and live light on the land without the ridiculous walled communities that many ex-Pats seem prone to, Ecuador will keep the charm it has. Now if only they can keep the oil and mining companies from totally destroying their country, most of whom are owned by Canadian companies.
Looks like the standard South of the border formula. Viva la Revolucion`. He Says "We take nothing for ourselves, it is all for you" and the crowd goes wild. Like they never heard that before. Lenin said it, Mao said it too. They do have oil and that's a huge help. So they multiplied the number of gubmint workers by 5.6 times. The unemployment rate goes down to a wonderful 31%. The only workers are gubmint workers! They hire their family and friends to be gubmint workers too ! but there's no unfairness there. It's for the people ! They take their new paychecks (financed with international debt) and go to "ChinaMart" and fill their houses with stuff made in China. And when debt financed growth stops, they look up and see the bosses did take something for themselves, perhaps way too much. And another south America Revolucion happens again.
Maybe a South America up rising?
When their house of cards comes crashing down I am sure the American taxpayers will have to bail them out. Like we don't have any debt of our own.
Well, one way to look at a bailout of Ecuador would be this: For a small fraction of what we paid one American bank as a bailout, we can bail out an entire nation.
Does this put things into perspective???
I wonder what you say to our #1 recipient of foreign aid that happens to be a FIRST world country......Israel. We "give" them $3 billion yearly FREE from our government not to mention all the private donations, etc. Nobody is complaining about that. The only American President to stand up to them was daddy Bush and when he told them that there would be "strings" (stop building settlements), the AIPAC lobbyists went wild on him and forced him to give in. Watch CNN's report called God's Warriors on youtube videos 3&4 and you'll quickly understand how are money is given away. It's o.k. to scream about 3rd world countries getting our money but when it's another first world country, nobody says a thing. We get nothing from Israel except becoming a target of their enemies. Words of solidarity, ally and friendship are overused. They sent no help for Katrina, Sandy or our drought stricken fields of last Summer. Some friends........ We need to help our own people and if there's anything leftover, the 3rd world.
Israel uses that $3 billion to buy military gear. A fair bunch of it from US military manufacturers. So while it is a gift to Israel, some of it filters back to the US. They also use some to finance spying on the US military and civilian developers of new technology. It's a love hate relationship.
Won't be long before millions of South Americans will be marching North. Nothing to stop them but drug abusing potheads that could care less what happens to this Country as long as they get high. Yup. Welcome to the future sewer of the World. The good old USA.
Maybe if you leave the country it will look less of a sewer.
Lazaro, what makes you think millions of South Americans will be marching north. Before I left to live in South American, I noticed many South Americans were returning home, where jobs opportunities were increasingly better. For many, but not all, the culture and quality of life here in S.A., is far better and much less material than where you live. Keep in mind, that I am not talking about Mexico, which is probably the source of the ones you think will march north. But, even Mexico will be improving because it is now seen as more viable for manufacturing that in China, since the average Chinese salary has increased to $2.50 an hour. Mexico will soon start having more job opportunities than places north. But, yes, things in N.A. are getting worse.
If you want the your country to improve, stop complaining; get off your butt, and you do something: like supporting real changes to your government that will bring positive results. Changing yourself is far more productive than complaining about others, calling them names, or making uninformed predictions. After all, American was founded on concept of the freedom and the power of the individual. Try honoring the tradition of your own country.
Brazil and Mexico at present have larger GDP growth than the USA. So no march will be coming our way. If anything, when the US economy collaspes, you can expect well trained and educated Americans to look for jobs and homes in Latin America.
Heard these BS stories before. If South America is such a Shangrila, why don't the 21,000,000 illegals head home. Take advantage of all those wonderful opportunities. Cash in on those great jobs. I'm laughing so hard I almost soiled my trousers.
Hey Rasputin...I took off my rose colored glasses long ago. Been to any major city lately. If you're real quiet you can hear the toilet flushing.
Yeah, and I've heard the same BS stories about immigration ruining the US before as well. Happened with the Germans came. And the Irish. And the Chinese, and ... well, you get the idea.
There is a long trail of failed governments that try to do centralized economic control. U.S.S.R., Venezuela and Japan are examples. China is successful only because they are a compete dictatorship. Centralized planning and control never, ever work in the long term.
"...in the long term?"
The long term is far from over. When Mao was asked what he thought of the Chinese cultural revolution after the first 75 years or so, he replied: "It's too early to tell. Ask me again in another century." Marxists play the 'long game'...the real long game.
USSR played the long game? I guess they lost then. China only succeeds because it's turned to capitalism. Cuba will do better because they're now offering capitalism as an option. Venezuela will fail miserably when oil starts dropping as production here grows along with alternative.
Socialism is a game for greedy leaders to pull the wool over the people for their own selfish gain. Find new stupid people and repeat. Like the last US election!
The time when America can meddle in the internal affairs of South and Central American government is over. The internet makes such nation re-direction difficult at best...even for the CIA*. If I had a dollar for every Latin American citizen that we left pissed-off in the wake of American Exceptionalism in the past century, I could pay off the national debt.
(*ref: Chile and the deposing of Pres. Salvador Allende in 1973)
He's looking to get the most money from China and other places. Most Latin American countries don't want the US's interference, especially when their leader wants to set up a dictatorship.
Hate to burst your fantasy bubble but you do realize the America has removed democratically elected president in South America and replaced them with dictators who where more in line with american interest. Try some American history full of fascinating and sometimes disheartening stories.
That's the only reason FAUX News has flourished in America, because our laws against libel are weak.
somebefuddledperson might want to get a map of Illinois. The University of Illinois is in Champaign-Urbana, which is no where near Chicago. And the posters who decry Ecuador doing business with China are laughable. How do you think the US has hung on so long economically? If it weren't for China carrying much of our debt for us, we'd have tanked several years ago. Correa has been the first President to bring any semblence of stability to Ecuador. He'll likely need to reign in the excess of government jobs in a country of barely over 14 million, however.
Their are many ex patriots who applaud Ecuador on their continuing success as a leader in south America ! I will be taking my state and social security retirement to one of the many friendly central or south American countys !!
Backing Julian Assange is courageous. Building a welfare state is not.
Soon China will own the world. Dump dollars; hoard yen.
Correa is a 2 bit dictator who has trampled on the civil rights and liberties of the Ecuadorian people.Like is buddy Chavez ,crime is getting much higher and giving out free handouts is not the answer except for people in genuine need. He gives out handouts for people to wave a picket card in favor of him so it looks like he has more support than he does.He and his fellow" New Socialists" liek Morales.Castro and Chavez are a disaster for latin America.Viva una America Latina Libre" without these type of dictators! And backing a thief who breaks into peoples mailboxes and has been accused of sexual assaults by 3 Swedish women in a very serious country Sweden. who is no great friend of the U.S, is hardly courageous .More like shooting himslef in the foot!
This country would be better off if we where to Nationalize our Natural resources such as minerals and oil ! We should consider a socialist economic system just like the Scandinavian counties !
petty crime was declared unpunishable before his last term ever started, no where is safe ..... at any time, it is a great place to visit, but keep your eyes open! they regularly use scopalamine to unwary tourists and citizenry, there are thieves on the public transportation system and if they rob you, no one will do anything to help you, the attitude is "better you than me".They will use crying children to "bait you" into an area where you can be robbed or worse..(in all my years there i heard of less that 5 exceptions re: intervention) i recently left after years of living there. i never let my kids go anywhere alone, and very rarely my wife, she being native to Ecuador. be especially careful when leaving tourist areas, you are pretty safe within, but they are waiting on the perimeters of these areas. this is, by the way, not how it used to be.... : (