Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa spoke out on June 1 about efforts by right-wing political forces in Latin America to oust democratically-elected governments, saying that it would set a dangerous precedent for democracy in the region.
“Right-wing politicians don't just want to return to power, they want to return with a thirst for vengeance,” said Correa during an interview with Ecuador Public Television.
Correa was first elected in 2006 as part of the so-called pink tide of leftist politicians coming to power throughout the region on the back of popular rebellions against US-pushed neoliberalism.
Some of those leaders or their successors are now confronting a concerted attack from right-wing opponents. There is a concerted push to oust democratically-elected governments, as the right has temporarily done in Brazil and is trying to do in Venezuela.
Correa was extremely critical of the actions of Brazil's lawmakers, who have suspended President Dilma Rousseff from her post.
“What is happening in Brazil is a disastrous precedent — there are no specific allegations against the president — to depose a president for administrative decisions is a terrible move,” said Correa.
Correa said the “rules of democracy” were not being respected by Rousseff's opponents. He said that despite the composition of the Congress, she should be allowed to complete her four-year term.
The Ecuadorean president said he was waiting to see if Rousseff is permanently removed from her post, but suggested that her ouster would be seen as an “illegitimate coup” by his government.
Correa also reiterated his praise for Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution, the name given to the revolutionary political process initiated by the late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.
Venezuela is highly dependent on the income from oil exports. For Correa, this is at the root of the current economic issues facing Venezuela.
Correa also pinned the blame for the economic crisis in Venezuela on the role played by private businesses. The Venezuelan government has accused opposition-aligned businesses of deliberately sabotaging production in order to cause shortages of basic goods.
Correa also singled out the media campaign aimed at disparaging the Venezuelan government.
[Reprinted from TeleSUR English.]
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