Rafael Correa

Biography

It carries out studies of economy at the catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil before obtaining a purse to continue them with the catholic Université of Leuwen (Belgium) then to the university of Illinois (the United States of America).

Of 1993 with 2005, it teaches the Economic scenes within the universities of Guayaquil and Quito.

He becomes the economic council of the vice-president Alfredo Palacio. When the president Lucio Gutiérrez is relieved in 2005, Palacio becomes president and Correa Minister for the Economy and Finances (in October 2005). Correa gives up this function later four months because of various policies with president Palacio.

During this short period, it promotes a left policy of , opposed to the proposals of the the World Bank and the IMF.

He is married with the Belgian Anne Malherbe and has three children.

Elections legislative and presidential of 2006

Correa is the candidate of an alliance of various currents of left parties, the Alianza País with the presidential election of 2006.

It is defined as Christian Humaniste and of left. Partisan of a policy souverainist and regional integration, it is opposed to the dollarisation and the Traité free trade (TLC) with the United States and supports a greater participation of the State with regard to the exploitation of oil and the management of the oil resources, as well as a renegotiation of the external debt.

At the beginning of August 2006 it announces the choice of Lenín Moreno like fellow candidate and candidate with the Vice-presidency. Correa however refuses to introduce candidates to the legislative elections, considering the Parliament discredited by the " partitocratie" and its intention announces, in the event of success, to promulgate a new Constitution.

Arrived in second position with 22,84 % of the votes to the first turn of the election, the October 15th, it faces the tycoon of the banana Álvaro Noboa with the second turn the November 26th 2006. Obtaining the support of principal trainings of left and indigenous organizations (CONAIE), he is elected with a comfortable advance (56,8 %). He declares whereas “thanks to God, we gained” and “that afterwards years of economic policy of closing socio, they could not remove us our hope”.

Criticisms

During the electoral campaign, certain analysts compare it to the current Latino-américain nationalist and populist left personified by the Venezuelan Hugo Chávez and Bolivian the Evo Morales. This identification is proposed by some other candidates of the traditional parties. Although one can detect a similarity in the political will of independence with respect to the the United States of America, and a will of regional bringing together, one can however establish obvious comparisons between Rafael Correa and Hugo Chávez, neither on the level of the personalities, nor with that of the declarations. Chavez in addition did not express a clear support for the candidate. The reader of Correa, professor Baer of the university of Illinois, suggests that Rafael Correa is not hostile with the market economy and anticipates, in the event of election, an attitude closer to that of the Brazilian president Lula than of Hugo Chávez.

Presidency of Ecuador

In accordance with its electoral promise, Correa announces during its nomination the behavior of a referendum on March 18th, 2007 with an aim of authorizing the creation of a constituent National Assembly charged to write a new constitution. The objective of this new constitution would be to limit the role of the political parties.

Correa in addition announced its will to renegotiate the Ecuadorian debt which rises to 10 billion euros, to renegotiate the deeds of the energy partnership PetroEcuador with the foreign partners. Correa in addition announced the reduction by two of its wages as well as the reduction in the wages of the Ecuadorian senior officials.

Engagement ecologist

At the general meeting of the United Nations of September 2007, Correa was committed “not exploiting 920 million barrels of petrol in order to avoid the emission of almost 111 million tons of carbon due to fossil matter combustion.” It noted however that this decision will imply “a reduction of about 720 million dollars in terms of overseas investments, which will not fail to strongly affect the Ecuadorian economy.” (Ecuador is a small oil producer but its reserves are relatively important, approximately 5 billion barrels).

See too

Political of Ecuador
List of the current leaders

External bonds

Site of Rafael Correa
Official site of the presidency

Random links: