Ecuador’s CONAIE and leftist organizations refuse to support incumbent Noboa in April runoff, seeking commitments from leftist candidate Luisa Gonzalez regarding key proposals, while Indigenous support remains divided. Noboa’s previous narrow victory and criticisms of his administration highlight the significance of this electoral phase.
On Wednesday, the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) and leftist social organizations announced they would not support incumbent President Daniel Noboa in the upcoming April runoff. Instead, they are seeking a response from leftist candidate Luisa Gonzalez concerning a list of proposals aimed at addressing Indigenous concerns.
The Indigenous electorate in Ecuador is currently fragmented, with some factions expressing support for Noboa. In the first round of voting in February, Noboa managed to narrowly defeat Gonzalez by just under 1%, and this slim margin could make the influence of CONAIE’s former candidate, Leonidas Iza, significant in the second round.
CONAIE has expressed criticism of Noboa’s policies regarding security and economic issues. However, various Indigenous and social organizations have chosen to endorse Noboa, who is finishing his predecessor’s term and is seeking a full mandate. Key proposals from CONAIE for Gonzalez include stopping privatization and large-scale mining, retracting Noboa’s aggressive policies against crime, and reverting the sales tax to 12% from the increased 15%.
In addition, the groups oppose Ecuador’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund. Contrarily, the CONFENIAE, representing Indigenous factions from the Amazon, has opted to support Noboa but seeks dialogue on policies affecting the Amazon region. The party of former candidate Andrea Gonzalez, who secured 2.69% of the votes in February’s election, has also decided to back Noboa.
In summary, the CONAIE organization and allied leftist social groups are refraining from supporting Daniel Noboa, instead focusing on garnering commitments from his opponent, Luisa Gonzalez. The diversity of opinions within the Indigenous electorate, alongside proposals aimed at addressing socio-economic issues, reflects the complexities of Ecuador’s political landscape. Both candidates must engage with these concerns as they prepare for the runoff.
Original Source: gazette.com
