Ecuador: As oil prices fall can Correa sustain achievements of his “citizen’s revolution”?

blogs.ft.com / Andres Shipani/ Of the generation of radical Latin American leaders that have won office in the last decade, Ecuador’s Rafael Correa – perhaps best known internationally for sheltering WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at his country’s London embassy – is among those with the most successful record. He has reduced poverty, promoted faster economic growth and dramatically improved the infrastructure of Opec’s smallest member. Now, a controversial proposal that would allow him to run for office indefinitely is set to come before congress.

But as the oil price falls, can the president sustain the achievements of his “citizen’s revolution” that have underpinned his popularity?

“The country’s situation is complex, because the government is supported by exorbitant public spending,” says Fernando Santos, a former energy minister and Opec governor. “If there is less oil income it will run out of alternatives.” Read Blog Post

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