Correa calls “impertinent” foreign former presidents who demanded transparency in the runoff elections

Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa described as “rude” and “impertinent” a letter in which Latin American former presidents expressed concern about the country’s democratic situation.

The text was written by the Democratic Initiative of Spain and the Americas (IDEA), made up of former Latin American and Spanish state heads. IDEA says it appreciates that the popular will has been respected in the first round of elections and asks the government to guarantee transparency in the second round.

“It is the Government’s responsibility to guarantee the right of citizens to elect their representatives, express their will with independence and freedom,” says the statement, signed by prominent figures such as former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and Jose Maria Aznar of Spain.

In his weekly address, Correa said that the declaration was “impertinent” and “rude.” He stressed that eleven elections had been held since he came to power ten years ago.

“I no longer know whether to cry or laugh when the referents of democracy, those who summon us, those who show their concern are guys like Alfredo Cristiani, of the Arena party (El Salvador), or Alvaro Uribe, who has been related to the Colombian paramilitaries,” said the president.