Ecuador: Increasing political tensions /update 1

Event

On Thursday, November 29, President Lenin Moreno issued a decree, allowing for a referendum to take place in late January or early February, on the imposition of a presidential term limit. Such a limit would bar former President Rafael Correa from running for office in the country's next presidential elections - scheduled in 2021.

Protests by Correa's supporters are anticipated in the coming days and weeks.

Context

Correa has been linked to corruption scandals related to the energy multinationals Odebrecht and PetroChina. Tensions have been high between Correa and President Moreno, despite the two being from the same political party, the leftist Alianza PAIS.

On a related note, on November 27 the head of the Unidad Popular (UP) political party formally requested Ecuador's Attorney General open a corruption investigation into former President Correa. If the AG complies, Correa could be barred from leaving the country. He has been living in Belgium since his term ended in May, but is currently on a visit to Ecuador to attend a party conference scheduled for December 3. Minor clashes broke out between supporters and protesters awaiting Correa at Guayaquil Airport (GYE) on November 25 as he returned to the country.

Advice

Individuals in Ecuador are advised to keep abreast of the sociopolitical climate and avoid all associated protests due to the risk of violence.