PAIS Alliance

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PAIS Alliance Movement (Proud and Sovereign Homeland)
Movimiento Alianza PAIS (Patria Altiva i Soberana)
PresidentAna Belén Marín
Secretary-GeneralGustavo Baroja
FounderRafael Correa
Founded3 April 2006[1]
Preceded byMovimiento Pais
Ruptura de los 25
Poder Ciudadano
Alianza Bolivariana Alfarista
Amauta Jatari
Poder Ciudadano
Partido Comunista de Ecuador
HeadquartersAv. Shiris, Quito, Ecuador
NewspaperSomos PAIS
Youth wingJuventudes Alianza Pais
Membership979,691 (2016)[2][needs update]
Ideology
Political positionCentre[9][10] to
centre-left[11][12]
Correa era:
Left-wing
National affiliation [es; zh] (2014–2018)
Regional affiliationCOPPPAL
São Paulo Forum
Colors  Lime green
  Midnight blue
  Bitter lemon
Seats in the National Assembly
0 / 137
Prefects
0 / 23
Mayors
27 / 221
Website
alianzapais.com.ec

The PAIS Alliance (Spanish: Alianza PAIS (Patria Altiva i Soberana); English: PAIS Alliance (Proud and Sovereign Homeland); país also means "country" in Spanish) is a centre-left[12] social democratic political party in Ecuador.[13] As of 2016, it had 979,691 members.[2]

Founded by Rafael Correa in April 2006, the party soon found success amid the "pink tide" period in Latin America. The party's early period in power (2007–2017) is known as the Correa era, named after the longtime leader Correa, who was also the President of Ecuador. Under Correa, PAIS was more left-leaning and followed a form of anti-imperialism, Bolivarianism, democratic socialism,[8] left-wing populism, left-wing nationalism, and progressivism, as part of socialism of the 21st century also followed by like-minded parties in Bolivia and Venezuela, which became known as Correism. The party had majority governments throughout the period in power and even had a supermajority from 2013 to 2017. During this period, Correa's administration increased government spending, reducing poverty, raised the minimum wage, and increased the standard of living in Ecuador.[14][15][16] Between 2006 and 2016, poverty decreased from 36.7% to 22.5%, and annual per capita GDP growth was 1.5 percent, as compared to 0.6 percent over the prior two decades. At the same time, income and wealth inequalities, as measured by the Gini coefficient, decreased from 0.55 to 0.47.[17]

When Correa's third term came to an end, he was followed by his vice-president Lenín Moreno, who moved the party closer to the centre[18][19] towards Third Way social democracy,[3] which both left-wing critics and some observers deemed as unpicking left-wing legacy and renouncing socialism, while capitulating to neoliberalism.[4][5][6][7] In part, this came as a result of recession by the end of Correa's tenuse due to reliance on oil, public expenditures, the 2016 Ecuador earthquake (more than 650 deaths and damage estimated at the equivalent of about 3% of GDP), and international pressure, resulting in government spending being slashed.[14][15][16][20]

Moreno maintained a majority approval rating throughout his term as vice president, his management was approved by 91% of Ecuadorians in May 2012,[21] and enjoyed a popularity rating as high as 77% shortly after the 2017 Ecuadorian general election. His approval dropped to 69% by the start of 2018, before dropping to 46% by mid-2018, and further fell to under 27% by mid-2019; in May 2020, it fell to 16%.[22][23][24] Moreno's sharp move to the right and its economic and political policies resulted in the 2019 Ecuadorian protests and mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador, reaching only 5% of approval by early 2021.[25] Moreno left office with an approval rating of 9%, according to a survey by the firm Cedatos,[26] and had a higher approval rating among those who voted for Guillermo Lasso (20%) than those who voted for Moreno himself (5%), although he is now disapproved of by both groups. In light of those developments and Correa founding the left-wing Citizen Revolution Movement, even as Moreno did not pursue re-election and left the party to become an independent politician, PAIS collapsed in the 2021 Ecuadorian general election, losing all of its seats.[27]

Background[]

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The roots of the PAIS Alliance go back to 1999, when Ricardo Patiño, together with Alberto Acosta, Patricia Dávila, Ivonne Benítez, and other Ecuadorian politicians, urged the creation of Jubilee 2000 Net Guayaquil, a civil corporation that would investigate ways to solve the serious issue of the Ecuadorian foreign debt, which had risen to a historical high.[28] Rafael Correa, Gustavo Larrea, and Fander Falconí also joined the group. Alliance PAIS influenced many successive political movements, giving its structure to movements like Civic Initiative, National Democratic Action, Alliance Bolivariana Alfarista, and Jubilee 2000.[clarification needed][29]

The PAIS Alliance movement functions under the Ecuadorian Socialist Party, sharing humanist movements and social bases.[29]

Party leadership and organization[]

The official party leadership is vacant following the expulsion of Lenín Moreno from the party after the party’s crushing defeat in the 2021 general elections. Other important leaders include former Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa, President of the National Assembly Fernando Cordero Cueva, the former Alcalde of Quito Augusto Barrera Guarderas, the Assemblyman Fernando Bustamante, Aminta Buenaño, the ex-Secretary of Planning Fander Falconí, and the Chancellor of the Republic Ricardo Patiño.[30][31]

The 22 vocales, or speakers, of the National Directive are Ricardo Patiño, Doris Soliz, Augusto Barrera, Irina Cabezas, Fernando Cordero, Nancy Morocho, Fander Falconí, María Luisa Moreno, Roberto Cuero, Ximena Ponce, Juan Carlos, Roxana Alvarado, Miguel Carvajal, Dora Aguirre, Jorge Loor, Gabriela Rivadeneira, Diego Borja, Patricia Sarzoza, Gustavo Baroja, Andrea Gonzaga, Leonardo Vicuña, and Olguita Mejía. Members of the Commission of Ethics include Karla Chávez, Carlos Marx, and Galo Borja. Members of the Electoral Commission include Mayerli Vásquez, Paúl Granda, and Xavier Ponce.[32]

PAIS Alliance publishes the newspaper El Ciudadano. The young wing of the party is called the Juventudes Alianza País.[33]

History[]

First period[]

Rafael Correa, former leader of PAIS Alliance

PAIS (Proud and Sovereign Homeland) Alliance was officially founded by Rafael Correa at the start of 2006 presidential campaign. Originally espousing democratic socialist views,[8] the movement called for political sovereignty, regional integration, and economic relief for Ecuador's poor.[34]

During the campaign, Correa proposed a constituent assembly to rewrite Ecuador's constitution.[35] PAIS Alliance did not run any congressional candidates, as Correa had stated that he would call for a referendum to begin drafting a new constitution; however, the PAIS Alliance movement signed a political alliance with the Ecuadorian Socialist Party, which did present candidates for the National Congress.[36]

In the 2006 Ecuadorian general election, Correa came in second place (22.84%), behind banana tycoon Álvaro Noboa (26.83%). Correa won the subsequent 26 November 2006 runoff election with 56.67% of the vote.[37] He took office on 15 January 2007.

Constituent referendum[]

On 15 April 2007, Ecuadoreans voted overwhelmingly (81.72% in favor) to support the election of a constituent assembly.[38]

Constituent Assembly election[]

In the 2007 Ecuadorian Constituent Assembly election, President Correa won backing for his plans to rewrite Ecuador's constitution and expand state control of the nation's economy. Correa's faction also won approximately 61% of the seats in the National Assembly (80 of 130 Assembly Members).[39] The Constituent Assembly was originally led by PAIS Alliance member Alberto Acosta, who was soon replaced by another PAIS member, Fernando Cordero.

Constitutional referendum[]

A constitutional referendum was held on 28 September 2008 to vote on the Ecuadorian constitution drafted by the 2007 Ecuadorian Constituent Assembly.[40] Partial results show that 64% of voters voted to approve the 2008 Constitution of Ecuador.[41]

Second period[]

Primary elections[]

For the first time in the political history of Ecuador, an organized political party selected its candidates by means of primary elections. PAIS Alliance organized primary elections for 25 January 2009 in the whole country. The objective was that the members of the political movement would name the candidates for the elections of 26 April 2009.[42]

General elections[]

Correa was re-elected for a second term in the 2009 Ecuadorian general election. It was the first time in thirty years that the country had re-elected a president. PAIS also won the largest legislative block in the National Assembly, although it was not a majority.[43][44]

In the 2009 legislative election for the Andean Parliament, Alliance PAIS obtained 3 of 5 parliamentarians.[45][46][47]

Correa was ratified as president of the movement in November 2010. Galo Mora was designated as the first secretary-general.[48]

On 1 October 2016, former Vice President of Ecuador Lenín Moreno was nominated as a candidate for the 2017 Ecuadorian presidential election at the conference of País Alliance. The statement was made by President Correa.

In the 19 February 2017 election, Moreno won the elections with 39.3% of the vote; however, he was short by less than one percentage point of outright victory, as Ecuador requires in its two-round system. In the Ecuadorian system, to avoid a runoff a candidate needs to either win 50 percent of the first-round vote, or take 40 percent of the vote and be at least 10 percent ahead of the runner-up (Guillermo Lasso had obtained 28.09%; had Moreno gained 40 percent, he would have won on the 40–10 rule). He defeated Lasso in the 2 April 2017 second runoff with 51.16% of the vote.[49]

Moreno administration[]

Lenín Moreno, former President of Ecuador

Within months of winning the election, Moreno moved away from his election platform,[3] igniting a feud with ex-president Rafael Correa. Moreno distanced himself from populist policies championed by Correa and the Venezuelan government, arguing that Ecuador needed to be independent from ALBA.[50] Moreno continued to identify himself as social democrat throughout this process.[12]

In February 2018, Moreno led the 2018 Ecuadorian referendum and popular consultation, which proposed more strict corruption laws and more regulations to protect natural areas within the country.[51] The most significant proposal approved by Ecuadorians in the referendum was the re-establishment of term limits for the presidency, effectively blocking Correa's future electoral bids.[12] At the time, Moreno enjoyed an approval rating near 80 percent according to polls.[12]

Under Correa, the Ecuadorian government had begun to overspend and increase borrowing, with the country's debt tripling in a five-year period.[3] Moreno was tasked with overhauling Ecuador's economy, resulting in spending cuts.[3] The moves to reverse Correa's populist policies did not earn Moreno more popular support, however, and by April 2019 his approval rating had dropped to around 30 percent.[3][12] By early 2020, his popularity had reduced to 7,72%.[52]

In 2021 Ecuadorian general election, Moreno did not seek re-election. Meanwhile, the party lost all of its seats in the National Assembly.[27]

Political project[]

PAIS occupies the slot of party number 35 on the Ecuadorian ballot. The colours of PAIS are bitter lemon and midnight blue. The slogan for the 2007 elections Dale Patria translates to "Go Homeland" in English. In 2016, it had an approximate membership of 979,691 people.[53]

Electoral history[]

Presidential elections[]

Election Party candidate Votes % Votes % Result
First round Second round
2006 Rafael Correa 1,246,333 22.84% 3,517,635 56.67% Elected Green tickY
2009 3,584,236 51.99% Elected Green tickY
2013 4,918,482 57.17% Elected Green tickY
2017 Lenín Moreno 3,716,343 39.36% 5,062,018 51.16% Elected Green tickY
2021 Ximena Peña 142,909 1.54% Lost Red XN

National Assembly elections[]

Election Party leader Seats +/– Position
2006 Rafael Correa
0 / 100
 Did not take part to elections
2007
80 / 130
 Increase 80 Majority government
2009
59 / 124
 Decrease 21 Majority government
2013
100 / 137
 Increase 41 Supermajority government
2017 Lenin Moreno
74 / 137
 Decrease 26 Majority government
2021
0 / 137
 Decrease 74 Extra-parliamentary opposition

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Conozca la historia de Alianza PAIS, de un binomio al control del poder en Ecuador". América Economía.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "3,5 millones de firmas avalan a 16 grupos políticos". El Telégrafo (in Spanish). 6 September 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Lenín Moreno's new economic policy". The Economist. 2019-04-11. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Ecuador paralyzed by national strike as Moreno refuses to step down". The Guardian.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "Moreno Is Breaking Ranks with the Correa Administration". Fair Observer. Sep 10, 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "The Socialist Who Gave Up Julian Assange and Renounced Socialism". Bloomberg.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Lenín Moreno unpicks Ecuador's leftwing legacy". The Financial Times. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c Ortiz-T., Pablo (2008), "Ecuador", The Indigenous World 2008, International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs, p. 147
  9. ^ Roberts, James M. "Can Ecuador Continue to Gain Economic Freedom?". The Heritage Foundation.
  10. ^ Valencia, Alexandra (October 5, 2019). "Ecuador unions call off anti-austerity protests after 370 arrests in two days" – via www.reuters.com.
  11. ^ "Lenin Moreno: It is necessary to establish a new ideology". Al Jazeera. 3 January 2019.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Stuenkel, Oliver (2019-07-11). "Is Ecuador a Model for Post-Populist Democratic Recovery?". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Archived from the original on 2019-07-12. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  13. ^ "Lenin Moreno: It is necessary to establish a new ideology". Al Jazeera. 3 January 2019.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b "Ecuador election: Who will succeed Rafael Correa?". BBC News. 18 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b "What to expect from Ecuador's elections". The Economist. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b Schipani, Andres (22 February 2017). "Ecuador's Lasso looks to overturn Correa's revolution". Financial Times. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  17. ^ "Report" (PDF). Centre for Economic Policy Research. 2017. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
  18. ^ Roberts, James M. "Can Ecuador Continue to Gain Economic Freedom?". The Heritage Foundation.
  19. ^ Valencia, Alexandra (October 5, 2019). "Ecuador unions call off anti-austerity protests after 370 arrests in two days" – via www.reuters.com.
  20. ^ Solano, Gonzalo (19 February 2017). "Official: Ecuador's presidential election headed to runoff". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  21. ^ "El 91% de ecuatorianos apoya la gestión del vicepresidente Lenín Moreno". www.vicepresidencia.gob.ec. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  22. ^ "Moreno's approval rating tumbles as popular concern grows over border violence – CuencaHighLife". cuencahighlife.com. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  23. ^ "Ecuador votes to limit presidents' terms in blow to Rafael Correa". The Guardian. Associated Press. 5 February 2018. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  24. ^ "Lenín Moreno's new economic policy". The Economist. 11 April 2019. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 14 October 2019..
  25. ^ "Desgaste institucional en el ocaso de las funciones". www.expreso.ec. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  26. ^ "OPINIÓN DE LA POBLACIÓN SOBRE MANDATARIOS SALIENTE Y ENTRANTE; EXPECTATIVAS HACIA EL FUTURO. Estudio cerrado al 21 de mayo de 2021". www.cedatos.com.ec. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  27. ^ Jump up to: a b Rogatayuk, Denis. "Ecuador's Election Was a Massive Repudiation of Neoliberalism". Jacobin. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  28. ^ Salmon, Felix (2011-07-05). "How Ecuador sold itself to China". Reuters Blogs. Archived from the original on 2011-07-09. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b "Elected Left, Governing Right". NACLA. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  30. ^ Rogtayuk, Denis. "Ecuador's Neoliberal Government Is Trying to Ban Rafael Correa from the 2021 Elections". Jacobin Mag.
  31. ^ "Bribery trial begins against ex-Ecuador leader Rafael Correa". AP NEWS. 2020-02-10. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  32. ^ "Movimientoalianzapais - Mein Blog". movimientoalianzapais.com.ec. Archived from the original on 2011-08-22. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  33. ^ "Juventudes Alianza País".[permanent dead link] Oromar TV.
  34. ^ ‘Socialismo’ en el discurso de Correa Archived 2009-01-09 at the Wayback Machine El Universo, July 23, 2007
  35. ^ McDermott, Jeremy Man of the people closes in on presidency Archived 2007-03-12 at the Wayback Machine, The Scotsman, 14 October 2006.
  36. ^ (in Spanish) Alianza PAIS and Socialist Party sign alliance on Alianza PAIS website Archived 2009-11-18 at the Wayback Machine
  37. ^ (in Spanish) RESULTADOS: NACIONALES[permanent dead link] Tribunal Supremo Electoral
  38. ^ "Consulta Popular Nacional" (in Spanish). 2007-06-30. Archived from the original on 2007-06-30. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  39. ^ Correa Wins Majority in Ecuador Vote to Rewrite Constitution, Bloomberg News, 2 October 2007.
  40. ^ "Ecuador Assembly Approves Constitution - Prensa Latina".
  41. ^ "Ecuadoreans back new constitution". BBC News. 29 September 2008.
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  43. ^ "Avenger against oligarchy" wins in Ecuador The Real News, April 27, 2009.
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  53. ^ Telégrafo, El (2016-09-06). "La CC aún no tramita el pedido de aclaración por supuesta estafa". El Telégrafo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-08-01.

External links[]

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