Summary
Highlights
Pedro Donoso analyzes the unprecedented march organized by the President against the Constitutional Court, highlighting the perceived 'schizophrenia' of one power acting against another. He questions the narrative that blames the Court for the country's violence and insecurity, pointing to low budget execution rates in security ministries as a more likely cause. Donoso also mentions the controversial billboards exposing the Constitutional Court judges and the government's inconsistent messaging regarding these actions.
Donoso argues that the march is counterproductive for the country and the democracy, potentially even for the government itself, despite the president's high approval ratings. He discusses the grave issue of 12 child deaths due to a bacterial outbreak and the Ministry of Health's questionable handling of the crisis, contrasting it with the government's focus on the Court. He expresses concern that the government's strategy of creating enemies and disorder distracts from critical issues like the health system crisis.
The analyst questions the government's claim that the Court is to blame for the violence, reiterating that the Court is merely doing its job by suspending articles of poorly drafted laws that lack 'unity of matter.' He emphasizes that the true problems lie in the lack of budget execution and effective policies, rather than the Court's rulings. Donoso critically examines the proposed question in an upcoming referendum that would allow political trials for Constitutional Court judges, warning against the politicization of justice and the danger of making decisions based on 'who' is in power rather than 'what' is being decided.
Donoso lists the primary challenges for the Novoa government, with security being the most prominent concern according to surveys. He highlights the worsening security situation despite the government's narrative and the lack of positive social, security, or economic indicators. He points out the significant drop in oil production, contrary to campaign promises. Economically, he states that the stagnation is a consequence of violence, lack of quality public services, and political conflicts.
The conversation shifts to the frequency of elections and referendums in Ecuador, noting that they often lead to political weariness and do not fundamentally change underlying issues. Donoso argues that electoral campaigns can lead to irrational, anti-technical decisions by the government aimed at gaining political capital, citing examples like the controversial mining license in Azuay. He concludes that the country's 'gatopardista' nature means things change on the surface but remain the same fundamentally, as the core problems are rooted in state absence and poor policy execution.