The people of Otavalo, like the rest of the country, gave Correa an overwhelming mandate which saw four out of five people vote yes. Here are three stories of Ecuadorians who voted 'si' and explain their hopes and fears now the Ecuadorian Congress has now been dissolved.
After President Rafael Correa won the election last November he 'promised a change from the past' with a 'civilian revolution'. The people have spoken.
Dedicating his four year term to change what right wing politics had curbed, Correa held a referendum to dissolve the old Congress and elect a brand new National Assembly to push his own legislation through. Correa was given a huge mandate from the referendum by his Ecuadorian compatriots with 80% saying 'yes' to change. Considering Ecuador's people compromises of eight different races and vast differences between the wealthy and poor, the result is quite extraordinary.Instability has caused the people to lose faith with politicians over the past 10 years with the country having seen eight different presidents in that period, all of whom have been right wing and have ignored the poorer classes. In a sweeping change over Latin America people have become more open to socialist ideals and Ecuador has been no exception. The positive vote for Correa has meant that the President can rewrite the constitution and adopt a new legislative branch of government in the form of a new national assembly; A vote that will take place within three months Correa had his differences with the previous Congress who halted all processes for change, frustrating both Correa and the Ecuadorian people which led to riots in Quito in favour after the remainder walked out in protest. An agreement between the pro-government lawmakers and a minority opposition party helped the motion through. throughout January. Correa won the right to hold to the referendum, however, when the 100-seat Congress voted 57-
The April vote signalled the intent of the country to want a break from the past, echoing the election campaign ran by Correa. The Guayaquil born President, who promised to stamp out corruption in Ecuador, used his name 'Correa' which means belt in Spanish as his sound bite.
Correa's aim is increase minority group representation in politics in term of women and the indigenous people. He also wants to ensure that a greater share of the country's wealth goes to the poor and greater representation goes to women and the indigenous people of Ecuador.Also keen to stop the countries emigration to both Europe and the United States in search for a better life, Correa aims to improve the quality of life for his citizens by putting further investment into education, health and social services.
This will include the building of low cost homes as well as doubling the 'bonus' that 1.2 million Ecuadorians receive.
Correa, however, still faces an uphill struggle. After the vote for the national assembly, he must then hold another referendum to approve the new constitution.
Silvia Zambrano, 35 years old
Spanish Teacher
Nothing will change my life essentially following the vote. I realised like most people in Ecuador that a change was needed which is why I voted yes. To change the status of the law is for the greater good. We didn't have confidence in our corrupted legislators. They do not consider the bigger picture when passing laws. They are only concerned with making rich companies richer in exchange for money for themselves which explains why the poor have been neglected.
The people know this is happening and have therefore lost trust in them which is why there is such strong support for Correa at this point. A lot of people are worried that nothing will happen for a long time, but I feel we are long overdue a change so we should defiantly try to do it.
William Jurado, 32 years old
Tourist Manager
As a tourist manager the vote is essentially going to be bad for me in the end, but I still want to vote yes for my children and children's children. This is the feeling amongst Ecuadorians at the moment, regardless of what political or social background you come from. Everyone thinks, however, that there will be a change over night but there wont be. The people of Ecuador may have to wait 10 years to see changes which could eventually see the downfall of Correa, where people will get impatient having voted for change and have yet to receive any benefits.
I own several companies and the new laws proposed will mean that I will earn less, but I'm pleased for my staff that will end up getting more for all the hours of hard work they put in.
Maryorie Elizabeth Rodriguez Deleo, 22 Years Old
Student
I feel it's important to have made the change as now we can look forward to a better future. At the moment we don't have many social laws which means few police, poor health service and bad education. Once out of school the pay is so bad anyway that many children drop out of school altogether or turn to the streets to rob. That is the easier option for most.
I both work and study which means long days from 5AM to 11PM at night, but I do it for my future.
In terms of actually education the teacher - student ratio is completely disproportionate. Many schools, especially indigenous ones have one teacher to 60 children from six different grades. If the teacher is sick, the kids don't learn. Correa aims to put more teachers into schools.
Hospitals don't have the necessary equipment to cure people, especially in the industrial cities where technology has fallen behind. People wait years for an operation but many don't get to even have one. And due to the lack of doctors, largely thanks to the bad education, many are under qualified to perform the most basic of procedures.
Essentially, the reasons here alone explains why there is such strong support for Correa who wants these issues tackles.
