The first real experiment of an indigenous party in power in a Latin American country has, finally, collapsed. As our readers know from our step-by-step monitoring of the growing rift between Pachakutik (PK) and President Lucio Gutiérrez, this outcome had been building up almost since Gutiérrez took office, when he decided to ignore the formal policy commitments he made to his allies, and his party, Sociedad Patriótica (PSP), began to undermine the positions of PK ministers in the cabinet.
PK was not the first member of the ruling coalition to depart: the leftist Movimiento Popular Democrático (MPD), raising objections similar to those of PK, walked away in July. Next to withdraw support from Gutiérrez, that same month, was Ecuarunari, the biggest member organisation of Conaie, the confederation of indigenous nationalities of which PK is the political arm. Ecuarunari represents the highland Indians of Ecuador, by far the most numerous group.
The endgame
Early in August, another member organisation of the indigenous umbrella, the Seguro Social Campesino, also publicly dissociated itself from Gutiérrez. The point of no return was reached on 5 August, when PK coordinator Miguel Lluco proclaimed, `[Lucio Gutiérrez] has betrayed himself and betrayed the Ecuadoreans [...] Pachakutik is surplus to this government.' Lluco suggested, though, that a formal decision to withdraw would not be taken until 15 August, at a party convention.
The very next day, though, the PK representatives in congress forced the outcome by ostensibly walking out when a vote was called on the government's draft law reforming the structure of the civil service. This allowed the newly formed left-of-centre bloc to defeat the government initiative. [Incidentally, the representatives of the conservative Partido Social Cristiano (PSC), putative new soulmates of President Gutiérrez, also walked out of that session.] The leader of the co-ruling PSP bloc, Gilmar Gutiérrez, promptly called for his namesake the President to declare the coalition over and dismiss all PK ministers. This he did immediately. Out went Nina Pacari (foreign relations), Luis Macas (agriculture) and tourism (Doris Solís). A prominent PK in a top non-cabinet position, Wilma Salgado, the successful head of the bank deposit guarantee agency AGD, was left to make up her own mind. She stayed put.
PSP leaders announced that the government would now seek new allies. PK and the left are convinced that a deal has already been struck with the PSC, but officials have refused to confirm or deny this, and repeat the official mantra that the government will not tilt `to the right or the left'. The PK has said it will join the left-of centre bloc in congress and set up an `alternative government' [more like a British `shadow cabinet'], while Conaie promises protests against Gutiérrez's economic policies. Gutiérrez has warned he will use force if necessary `to defend the constitution'.
End of preview - This article contains approximately 489 words.
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