Ecuador’s CONAIE and leftist groups will not support President Noboa, urging Luisa Gonzalez to address their proposals. The Indigenous vote is divided, with some backing Noboa. Key issues raised include privatization, tax increases, and IMF agreements.
Ecuador’s major Indigenous organization, CONAIE, alongside various leftist social groups, has declared its refusal to endorse the incumbent president, Daniel Noboa, in the upcoming April run-off. Instead, they have urged leftist candidate Luisa Gonzalez to respond to their proposals. Currently, the Indigenous vote is fragmented, with some factions still inclined to support Noboa.
Noboa, the 37-year-old heir to a business empire, won the February first round against Gonzalez, a former protégé of ex-President Rafael Correa, by a mere 1%. This close outcome positions CONAIE’s leader, Leonidas Iza, who garnered 5.25% of the vote, as a significant player influencing the second-round election results.
While CONAIE has voiced concerns over Noboa’s security and economic policies, some Indigenous and social factions are choosing to support his administration, which is winding up the term of his predecessor. The proposals put forth by CONAIE and affiliated groups include halting privatizations and large-scale mining projects, as well as ceasing Noboa’s aggressive stance against crime.
Additional demands include reverting the sales tax from the increased rate of 15% back to 12% and rejecting the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). On the other hand, CONFENIAE, representing Amazonian Indigenous groups within CONAIE, has chosen to support Noboa but insists on engaging in dialogues concerning policies affecting the Amazon region.
The party led by Andrea Gonzalez, who finished fourth in the February elections with 2.69% of the vote, has also expressed its support for Noboa.
In summary, the Indigenous organization CONAIE and leftist groups are pressing Luisa Gonzalez for a response to their proposals, rejecting support for President Noboa. The Indigenous vote remains divided, with some factions backing Noboa. Key proposals include halting privatizations, lowering sales tax, and opposing the IMF deal, with conversations ongoing regarding policies affecting Ecuador’s Amazon region.
Original Source: www.thestar.com.my
