Rivadeneira apologizes for controversial phrase about rich and poor people

Gabriela Rivadeneira, president of the National Assembly, said that her phrase: “poor people eat bread and rich people eat shit,” was interpreted out of context by people and media and reiterated that it was not her intention to make specific accusations to any Ecuadorean.

“To all Ecuadorians who might feel alluded and offended by this phrase I ask my sincere apologies… but we must be clear that in my absence (she traveled to Geneva the following day,) many people and media have used that phrase to also discredit a political Project,” said Rivadeneira.

The head of the legislature, said she used the phrase as a “metaphor used in the context of the debate, which concerned the plundering by transnational companies of our land, our resources, our people and our wealth.” That’s why she stressed that there can be no sanction from the Legislative Administration Commission (CAL for its Spanish acronym).