The National Assembly (parliament) of Ecuador has approved a provision that prevents the president, Rafael Correa, is presented for re-election in the elections of 2017, but sparked protest from opposition groups reluctant to posit that the president is in the future.
EFE
The National Assembly has approved an amendment that allows the presentation to the re-election for all offices by popular vote, as they enter into force in May 2017, thereby preventing Correa submitted only to those elections.
Unions and indigenous groups, various social and political sectors have opposed all year amendments and in particular the re-election in principle because they believed it would allow Correa presented in 2017.
A transitional provision, approved with the amendment, which moved to May of that year the entry into force of the measure, prevents such a possibility, although the opposition considers a move that will allow Correa, in power since 2007, arise in the future .
The adoption of the amendments introduced by the Government, was thanks to a vote of 100 of the 109 lawmakers present in the plenary session, while in the streets around the parliament building opposition concentrated to reject them, knowing that the ruling is majority in the Assembly.
A few minutes after the vote, the protesters charged the police guarding the legislative headquarters, resulting in a reaction of agents attacked the critics to disperse them.
The incidents in the vicinity of the Parliament, in the center of Quito, generated arrests and injuries were reported in clashes between protesters with the police.
The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) denounced the arrest of several of its leaders and trade unionists and politicians.
CONAIE reported 14 people arrested in Quito and demanded the release "block" of them all, which include, according to the list of organization-Vicente Chato, Brayan Toalombo, Cristina Alarcon, Edgar Sarango, Jorge Alarcon, César Montufar, Miguel Garcia, Gabriela Mosquera and Daniel Baldeón, among others.
"We reject categorically the approval of the package of constitutional amendments," said the CONAIE in a statement he accused of violent police repression.
In addition, labor groups such as the United Workers Front announced that protests will continue and have not ruled sue constitutional amendments.
Today's protests also reproduced in other cities like Guayaquil, Cuenca, Puyo, Ibarra, Ambato and Santo Domingo, without incident.
The government presented a package of 16 constitutional amendments on several topics such as collective bargaining in the public sector, the support of the armed forces to internal security, the referendum on local governments and the establishment of communication over a year ago a public service.
However, the issue of reelection was the workhorse of opposition groups who for months have called frequent protests under the slogan of "Outside Correa, out."
In contrast, the president, who is in France, participating in the climate summit (cop21) replied to the opposition through the Twitter network.
"Now, get ready for the victory of 2017. We have great colleagues who know do (exert power) much better than we could," Correa wrote.
The Ecuadorian president, who enjoys high popularity according to polls, has suggested several names of members of the ruling party that could replace him in the 2017 election, as former Vice President Lenin Moreno and the current vice president Jorge Glas.
In his message, he congratulated Correa legislators for approving the package of constitutional amendments.
"What a triumph of the Ecuadorian people! Thank you fellow assemblymen! "Wrote Correa and said that the opposition protests were not only" the amendments ".
"They wanted to turn to the old country, dominate from the usurpation of popular representation, immobilize us, blind us to govern," he said.
"We may be wrong, but in Ecuador is sending the people of Ecuador," said Correa, suggesting that those who support the project are "more, many more 'than opponents.