Ecuador's government, the most fragile of South America

Authors:
José Alberto López Rafaschieri and Luis Alberto López Rafaschieri
www.morochos.net

The closing of radio Arutam and Teleamazonas by Rafael Correa's administration are not chance events, behind this onslaught against the media is the face of a weakened government.

Although Correa has not done so badly in the economic sphere, his lack of social outcomes, his authoritarian style, his ties to Colombian guerrillas and his alliance with Hugo Chavez, have been the variables that have weighed in on the deterioration of his image before the people of Ecuador. So that, only from September to November 2009, Correa's popularity has fallen from 49% to 42%.

That is why Correa attacks the media, he is blaming this sector for his loss of legitimacy. Similarly, there is the reason of the donation of Mirage fighter jets from Venezuela to Ecuador, it seems an attempt to appease the Ecuadorian military class and to prevent a situation like the coup against Zelaya in Honduras. The ALBA leaders know that the country's military can react against Correa if he continues to fall in popularity and copying Chavez's policies.

Based on the above -plus the tensions with Colombia and the growing conflict with the indigenous sector- of all South American governments, Ecuador has the biggest political risk.

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