Pressure on the consultation grows; Lenín Moreno challenges Rafael Correa

Ecuadortimes:

Government allies were activated to try to shore up the popular consultation that was proposed by the Executive. The process is in the Constitutional Court (CC), since the last October 2^nd.

The representatives of 60 social organizations, grouped around the Commission of Social and Faction Organizations of Ecuador, and met with the Vice President María Alejandra Vicuña, this Tuesday, November 21, 2017, in the morning, in the north of Quito.

In the Center of the capital, “Democracia Si” political movement activists shared time with President Lenin Moreno.

The slogans were the same in both places: vote seven times yes in the popular consultation, pressure the Constitutional Court to accelerate the the process and support the Moreno government’s management. For tomorrow (Thursday) another similar meeting is planned in Guayaquil, but from the movement “ del frente somos Ecuador”

The aim is for the consultation to be seen as an initiative of the population and not only of a government or a political party. “You have to understand that it is a citizen demand. More than 2 700 questions were processed from 700 organizations, collectives, unions, to define the contents of the consultation, “said the Vice President

The militants of Democracia Sí, on the other hand, had met at El Arbolito Park at 08:30. From there they went to the Constitutional Court and then went to the Plaza Grande. A stage with sound equipment was installed near the Carondelet Palace. Musical bands entertained the audience, while a group of leaders, led by Gustavo Larrea, held a closed dialogue with the president.

At first it was announced that after the appointment, Larrea would go up to the stage to give a speech. It was not necessary. He appeared on the balcony of Carondelet, next to the President of the Republic, with a microphone in his hand.

The clicks of the cameras multiplied and sounded like applause. They captured for history, the first image of Larrea and Moreno together, in Carondelet.

The leader of Democracia Sí, had not been so close to a president since 2008. Then, he was Minister of Government of former President Rafael Correa. That same year he resigned and marked distance with the former president.

To Correa, precisely – who announced a visit to Ecuador this Friday – dedicated a few words to him before leaving the Carondelet Palace. His presence, Larrea said, will not affect the political course of the country, as the correísta front of the pro-government movement expects.

“It’s true that he did a lot of damage to the country, but we’re not going to act for revenge. We cannot do politics like that, “said Gustavo Larrea.

Moreno, on the other hand, commented that it should not be surprising that a citizen circulates freely throughout the country.

“He should come, and do a concentration here in Quito, in the Aucas stadium, in the Olympic stadium; I go to Guayaquil; Go to Cuenca, do not hide in the borders, “said Moreno. “he should come here, where the citizenship in a respectful, but forceful way, will ask him what he thinks of the last years of his mandate.”

The words  deepened the struggle that exists in the ruling party from Belgium, Correa published in Twitter: “Now Esmeraldas is a hideout on the border. What a barbarity! “And he quoted a phrase by Eva Perón. “On the ashes of the traitors we will build the Homeland of the humble”.

Currently there are two sides that claim to be in charge of the Alianza País organization. One close to Moreno and another, to Correa. The second, led by Ricardo Patiño and Gabriela Rivadeneira, convened for this December 3 to a national convention, where Correa will participate. Previously, it plans to tour the main provinces to try to restructure the movement.

Vicuña warned that this convention is not official, since it can only be convened by the board of directors that is registered in the National Electoral Council, with Lenin Moreno at the helm. Therefore, what is decided in “that friends meeting” will not have legal validity. The Government – Vicuña continued – will continue focusing on fulfilling its campaign promises. (I)

Source: http://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/presion-consulta-leninmoreno-reto-rafaelcorrea.html