GOVERNMENT
The 2008 constitution provides for 4-year terms of office for the president, vice president, and members of the National Assembly. Presidents may be consecutively re-elected for an additional term. The executive branch currently includes 28 ministries, (including coordinating ministries with inter-governmental responsibility). Provincial leaders (called prefects) and councilors, like mayors, city councilors, and rural parish boards, are directly elected. A newly elected National Assembly will replace the interim Legislative Commission after the April 2009 elections. Justices of the National Court of Justice will be selected by a Judicial Council through a merit-based process to a nine-year term with no immediate reappointment. A special committee, composed of members selected by all branches of government, will appoint the members of the Constitutional Court to serve a nine-year term, with no reappointment.
POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Ecuador's political parties have historically been small, loose organizations that depend more on populist, often charismatic, leaders to retain support than on programs or ideology. Frequent internal splits have produced great factionalism. No party has won the presidency for two consecutive terms since the return to civilian government in 1979.
Beginning with the 1996 election, the indigenous population abandoned its traditional policy of shunning the official political system and participated actively. The indigenous population established itself as a force in Ecuadorian politics, and participated in the Gutierrez administration before joining the opposition.
The 2007-2008 constituent assembly approved a constitutional text on July 29, 2008, which was subsequently approved by voters on September 28, 2008. This new constitution is Ecuador's 20th since independence.
As of the end of 2008, President Correa's PAIS movement was the predominant political force. President Correa has criticized the traditional political parties. As a result of this criticism and their weak showings in the 2007-2008 elections, opposition parties are weakened and seeking ways to revive themselves.
Principal
Government Officials
President--Rafael CORREA
Vice President--Lenin MORENO
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Maria Fernanda ESPINOSA
Minister of Defense--Lorena ESCUDERO
Ambassador to the United States--Luis GALLEGOS Chiriboga
Ambassador to the Organization of American States--Efren A. Cocios
Ambassador to the United Nations--Maria Fernanda ESPINOSA
Ecuador
maintains an embassy in
the United States at 2535 - 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
(tel. 202-234-7200) and consulates in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago,
Dallas, Denver, Houston, Jersey City, Los Angeles, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Government Type: Republic.
Constitution: August 11, 1998.
Independence: May 24, 1822 (from Spain).
Branches: Executive--president and 15 cabinet ministers.
Legislative--unicameral Congress. Judicial--Supreme Court, Provincial
Courts, and ordinary civil and criminal judges.
Administrative subdivisions: 22 provinces.
Political parties: Over a dozen political parties; none
predominates.
Suffrage: Obligatory for literate citizens 18-65 yrs. of
age; optional for other eligible voters; active duty military
personnel may not vote
