Correa and Nebot exchanged political speeches

Yesterday, during separate sessions in honor of the 478 years of the founding of Guayaquil, the president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, and the mayor of Guayaquil, Jaime Nebot, criticized each other, regarding the administration of Guayaquil’s City Hall, which will be contested in the sectional elections of February 2014.

Correa made it clear throughout the day on his speeches that the government is interested in the Municipality of Guayaquil. “For 20 years of the administration of the Party-cracy, Guayaquil grew to be the most unequal city in Ecuador (…) Enough of the same people. A national model in which Guayaquil advances is needed,” said Correa.

“The mayor, contradicting his word, is up for reelection (…) is the only remaining card of the right wing (…) The youth of Guayaquil and the Motherland will defeat the figures of the past,” said the president.

Rafael Correa during his speech.

On is behalf, Mayor Nebot, who began his speech with a “Long Live Guayaquil, Dammit!” said that only fools can ignore that on the last 20 years this city has made more progress than ever. Following that the mayor began a lengthy review of the works under his administration, supported with a giant screen showing images of before, in black and white, and now, in color.

Given the affection and support that he received from the public, as it crossed through the 9 de Octubre Avenue during the parade ‘Guayaquil More City’, he said: “These are not organized demonstrations, these are not deceiving publicities neither tv and radio broadcasts that see reality through a fourth eye, these are the realities of the people, the love of the people, what the afflicted and poor people think.”

Finally the Mayor answered Correa, who had said just before that it was time to make way for new people. “Let him be changed, he has already been there for seven years. Anyway, that is decided by the people.” And about the president’s comments that “this is the last card left to the right wing”, Nebot said: “I do not play cards, nor I cheat with them.”

Jaime Nebot during his speech.

Guayaquil experienced yesterday a variety of public and private festivities, some of which will last until next Sunday.