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Andean Group - August 2015 (ISSN 1741-4466)

Correa faces down most serious protests since coming to power

President Rafael Correa accused Ecuador’s main indigenous organisation and trade union movement of trying to return the country to “old times” after a protest march began in early August, culminating in a general strike on 13 August. Correa’s popularity is on the decline amid falling oil prices and contentious reform initiatives, but he still enjoys far more support than three of his predecessors who were brought down in tumultuous political upheavals - Abdalá Bucaram (1997), Jamil Mahuad (2000) and Lucio Gutiérrez (2005). These were the “old times” to which Correa was alluding. The indigenous movement played an instrumental role then, but it was more powerful and more united than now. Ecuador is likely to face more protests, however, and from more diverse sources, in the run up to Correa’s presumed re-election bid in 2017 than he has been accustomed to since coming to power in 2007.

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