Running for the Constitution

The Constitutional Assembly had the new Constitution ready for being approved or disapproved in a referendum the next September 28. After a massive and historical support of the people to the assembly, most of the Ecuadorians have hopes in this work.

The content of the new Constitution has interesting new points, as the “good living” (form the kichwa expression and concept: sumak kawsay), as the rights of the nature, as well as a national plan for the culture. At the same time there are concerns about the concentration of power in the President figure.

You can check the entire project of the new Constitution in this link (download in pdf). I was forgetting that this one is the “official one” and I said that because the final text approved by the assembly had been changed after the discussions ended. The president of the Assembly said because of writing mistakes and things like that. (¿?)

I would like to share some points of view at the end of theprocess:
- The approval of the new constitution is very associated with the popularity of the President. Some people are concerned about the vote for approving the president and not the Constitution. Mr. Correa is actually one of the leaders of the campaign for the “yes” in the referendum. Moreover, there are questions about the origin of the funds for the campaign and rejection to the use of public funds in that. The campaign in the approval side is mainly focused on the “hope”, “change” and the refuse to the traditional politicians and parties, called at this time “partyocracy”. Check this video.



- Even when the majority of the people are in favor of the project of the new Constitution, there is some tension in some sectors of the opposition. In August 16 some students in the Catholic University in Guayaquil had a confrontation with the police and government followers while the President was doing a speech inside. They were only a few and children of the oligarchy, the government said. They are the expression of a growing movement, some media said.



- A current poll (August 19) made by CEDATOS showed that the 44% of the people will vote in favor of the new Constituion, 34% disagree the project. The rest will null and leave “white” their votes. We will see…

I have voted for some years (voting in Ecuador is obligatory) and I haven’t seen any president finishing his period. I am sure big changes won’t come only through a new constitution. How the government is going to implement the good ideas they said they have if the new Constitution is aproved?

Two recommended articles:
- The good life (In this one you have to check the comments too and you will perceive the climate of passion around the President and the Constitution project.
- Ecuador: New Constituion Ready For Vote in Referendum