The people of Ecuador are rising up to refound their country as a pluri-national homeland for all. This inspiring movement, with Ecuador's indigenous peoples at its heart, is part of the revolution spreading across the Americas, laying the groundwork for a new, fairer, world. Ecuador Rising aims to bring news and analysis of events unfolding in Ecuador to english speakers.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Campaign Flurry Marks Ecuador Vote

Quito, Mar 11 (Prensa Latina) Massive electoral campaigns in Ecuador are off and running Wednesday between politicians competing in the April 26 general elections.

This is the most complex and important vote in the country's democratic life, in which more than 10 million voters must elect nearly 5,960 posts next month, under the new Constitution.

National Electoral Council president Omar Simon stated Tuesday at the start of this electoral race that the nation has entered a process of significant changes that guarantees conditions for all candidates to the different posts.

Simon said that this totally transforms the courses and parameters of the political system, as well as allows increasing participation of different sectors, groups and those representing the society.

This time, there are eight presidential candidates and thousands of applicants to other positions, who have started to spread plans and proposals since yesterday.

According to surveys, Head of State Rafael Correa, who expects to be re-elected under the new Constitution, looms large as a favorite.

His adversaries, banana tycoon Alvaro Noboa, ex President Lucio Gutierrez and assembly member Martha Roldos, among others, hardly have enough support to compete with Correa.

Other applicants to assembly members, municipal mayors and provincial prefects are cranking up their campaigns to find supporters of their political programs.

Specialized media note the popularity of the Country Alliance Movement Correa leads over older parties like Social Christian Party, Democracy-Christian Party and Roldosist Party that are still in crisis, due to their leaders' loss of prestige.

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