Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

Ecuador

The Democracy Programme in Ecuador (Ágora Democrática), promotes inclusive politics and provides technical assistance to lawmakers.

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Programme news

What we do: Ecuador

Video - 2009

Partners explain why the NIMD programme in Ecuador promotes public participation and gender equality in politics, and how it has helped bring about a new Constitution and a new Political Parties law.

NIMD meets with Ecuador's Vice President

News Article - 15 September 2009

On September 14, 2009 Ecuador’s Vice President Lenin Moreno received the director and staff of NIMD and Ecuadorean partner Ágora Democratica.

Ecuador implements new Constitution

News Article - 09 September 2009

Ecuador is working on the implementation of a new Constitution. New national, regional and local elections were held in April 2009. On August 10 Rafael Correa was inaugurated as President of Ecuador for a second term.

President Correa re-elected in Ecuador

News Article - 28 April 2009

After the elections on Sunday 26th of April, it seems that President Rafael Correa has won the first round of the Presidential Elections with 55% of the votes.

New Electoral Law in Ecuador

News Article - 10 December 2008

This week, Ecuador's new electoral law was sent to the transitionary congress. General elections will be held in 2009 and NIMD partner, Ágora Democrática is at the forefront of the events.

Ecuador in constitutional 'transition period'

News Article - 17 October 2008

Ecuador has dissolved its National Constituent Assembly launching a period of constitutional reforms

Ecuador: Campaigning for a new Constitution

News Article - 22 August 2008

On 28 September the people of Ecuador will decide upon a new Constitution with extensive political reforms. In August and September, an intensive campaign is expected.

Inauguration of NIMD offices in Ecuador

News Article - 01 April 2008

NIMD offices inaugurated by former Dutch minister

Ecuador's new constitution: sharing the Bolivian experience

News Article - 06 February 2008

In preparation of a new constitution Ecuadorian politicians met with Bolivian colleagues to learn about the pitfalls and possibilities during this often sensitive process.

Ecuador and the Dutch consensus model

News Article - 22 November 2007

Members of the Constituent Assembly in Ecuador study Dutch consensus model during study visit

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Programme information

In Ecuador NIMD works with International IDEA on the joint programme Ágora Democrática to promote inclusive politics and provide technical assistance to lawmakers. The programme has contributed to provisions for women’s political and economic rights in Ecuador’s new constitution, and helped design a new Electoral and Political Parties law.

Political parties in parliament

• Alianza País (AP)
• Democratic Alternative (DA)
• Nuevo País (NP)
• Movimiento UNO
• Movimiento Independiente Futuro Ya
• Movimiento Honradez Nacional
• Movimiento Concertación Democrática Nacional
• Movimiento Fuerza Ecuatoriana
• Izquierda Democrática (ID)
• Unión Demócrata Cristiana (UDC)
• Partido Social Cristiano (PSC)
• Partido Roldosista Ecuatoriano (PRE)
 

Key achievements in 2008

• NIMD’s partner organization Ágora Democrática has created a dialogue between newly-elected members of the Constituent Assembly (CA) from ruling and opposition parties during an exchange visit to Spain, the Netherlands and Norway as a preparation for the CA. The central issues were: energy policy, social dialogue and the CA itself
.• On 1 August, the Ágora Democrática Programme organized an international seminar on constitutional reforms. The seminar was opened by President Rafael Correa and was attended by OAS Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, amongst others. It offered a public space for debate between the Ecuadorean political actors and civil society.
• In order to inform and involve Ecuadorean society in the CA and to strengthen the relationship between the media and politicians Agora Democrática has organized weekly radio debates about the CA, and a series of workshops for media and politicians.
 

Lessons learned

• The establishment of a strategic partnership and working relationship with radio stations offers the opportunity to increase the reach of Ágora Democratica’s Programme and inform and involve society about the political agenda of the country.
• The overwhelming majority that President Correa’s Alianza País holds in the Constituent Assembly and their decision to dismiss Parliament creates a serious threat of growing centralization of power and authoritarianism. Ágora Democrática will be focusing its activities more on creating dialogue between ruling and opposition parties.
• Because of the gap between political forces, there is an urgent need to set up a multiparty platform for a structural dialogue between parties.
 

Key national partners

• Political parties (see annex)
• Coordinadora de Radios Populares y Educativas del Ecuador (CORAPE, network of community radios)
• Participación Ciudadana, NGO on civil participation
• Centro de Documentación e Información de los Movimientos Sociales del Ecuador (CEDIME, Documentation Centre of the Social Movements in Ecuador)
• Simón Bolívar Andean University
• Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLASCO)

Key international partners

• International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA)
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• Spanish International Cooperation Agency (AECI)
• Organization of American States (OAS)