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Big win for constitutional referendum in Ecuador
QUITO
Petroleumworld.com, Sept 30, 2008A constitutional referendum to expand the authority of Ecuador 's President Rafael Correa easily won approval with 64 percent of the vote, according to results released Monday.
The official results issued by electoral authorities were based on 80 percent of ballots counted after Sunday's referendum, with only 28 percent voting "no."
The referendum needed just over 50 percent to become law and Correa on Sunday called the result a triumph.
"The new constitution has had a crushing victory," Correa said on Sunday in the opposition stronghold Guayaquil, on the Pacific coast.
Organization of American States General Secretary Jose Miguel Insulza, in a statement, congratulated Correa "on very strong support granted by Ecuadoran people."
Passed by a Constitutional Assembly on July 24, the new Basic Law would strengthen the government's hold on the economy of this small nation of 13.9 million people -- half of whom live in poverty -- which is based chiefly on oil exports and money sent home by its emigrants.
Exit polls on Sunday released shortly after voting ended forecast a similar result.
In a bid to avert unrest, Correa asked the opposition and all "no" voters to remain calm and issued a called to unity.
"We extend them our hand. Let them acknowledge defeat and let's strike out together in the new direction the great majority of Ecuadorans, as well as all Latin America, are setting: a society with more justice, much more equality and without so much ... misery."
Correa has said he wants his country to pursue "21st century socialism" as Ecuador follows leftist allies Venezuela and Bolivia , making it the latest South American country to chart a leftward course.
The proposed constitution is inspired by the leftist majorities in power in Venezuela and Bolivia and their repudiation of the neoliberal policies of the 1990s, but falls short of nationalizing the country's national resources as Bolivia and Venezuela have done.
Its 444 articles expand presidential powers which advocates said would end political instability in a country that in the last 10 years has sent three presidents packing before their terms were up.
The new constitution would allow the president to run for two consecutive four-year terms, dissolve Congress and call early elections.
Correa, 45, has already announced his intention to run for reelection in February 2009, if it is approved, in which case early elections would be convened by the Constitutional Assembly.
The new constitution would also close down all foreign military bases in Ecuador, forcing the United States to move its regional anti-drug operations, run for nearly 10 years from an air base in the port city of Manta.
Opposition leader and Guayaquil Mayor Jaime Nebot has railed against the new constitution he says would create an inefficient, centralized government that would threaten private property.
The Roman Catholic Church, a major player in this predominantly Catholic nation, has also criticized the new constitution, especially the articles it says will lead to the legalization of abortion and same-sex marriage.
Correa addressed those doubts in his victory speech to supporters.
"Let's see if the new constitution is pro-abortion, centralist, hyperpresidentialist, a harbinger of dictatorship. Let's see if all that is true."
Story from AFP
AFP 29 1553 GMT 09 08Copyright© 2008 respective author or news agency. All rights reserved.
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