President Lucio Gutiérrez has just about persuaded his indigenous allies to stay aboard the ruling coalition, but now finds himself having struck a peculiar alliance with the right in congress, largely motivated by his reaction to recent statements by a left-of-centre former President.
Last week was expected by many in Ecuador to culminate in a make-or-break challenge for the ruling alliance. The umbrella indigenous confederation Conaie -sponsor of the Pachakutik movement, junior partner in the ruling coalition- had given its leader Leonidas Iza a 'mandate' which he was expected to get endorsed by President Gutiérrez.
Rejection would mean that Conaie would follow its member-organisation Ecuarunari into opposition.
Agreeing with Conaie. Quite unexpectedly, Gutiérrez decided to sign with Iza a document committing the government to:
* Eschew any projects entailing the privatisation of 'strategic' state enterprises.
* Review several oil contracts with a view to their amendment or annulment.
* The promotion of public forums to discuss future oil and energy policies.
* Refrain from increasing the price of cooking gas.
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