MEXICO CITY, Mexico – Protests and riots in Ecuador could pose problems for the United States, as analysts say democracy in the South American nation is under threat. In recent weeks, the government of President Guillermo Lasso has faced growing protests over demands to cut prices on some products. Some observers say the protesters are seeking to destabilize and overthrow the Lasso government. The protests are mostly led by indigenous groups who accuse the government of failing to comply with their demand to reduce fuel prices, control agricultural prices and set a larger education budget. However, some conservative analysts say this is just an excuse to stage a coup against the government, because left-wing groups want to take power at any cost. Protesters protest against the government of President Guillermo Lasso and the increase in fuel prices in Quito Ecuador, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. The Minister of Defense of Ecuador warned on Tuesday that the country’s democracy is in danger. capital city. (AP Photo / Dolores Ochoa) Experts say reports that the government may need to shut down the country’s oil wells due to the unrest will have little impact outside Ecuador. “Ecuador produces less than half a million barrels of oil a day, so it can hardly affect the world price of oil. But oil and its derivatives account for more than half of Ecuador’s exports. Fuel prices are global, but here they are subsidized. “And this is what they are negotiating now: the size of the subsidy. In Latin America, only Venezuela subsidizes them more than Ecuador,” said Ecuadorian analyst Gabriela Calderón, a research fellow at the Cato Institute. BIDEN AGREES “OPPORTUNITIES” OF THE WESTERN HEMISPARE, REPUBLICS AT THE MEETING EXCLUDING LATIN-AMERICAN DICTATORS Calderon told Fox News Digital from Guayaquil: “There are three problems: drug penetration, the radicalization of indigenous political leadership and the biggest bloc in the National Assembly are the Koreans: they are always looking for an excuse to destabilize any government that is not theirs. . “Everyone wants to overthrow the president.” The Correistas are supporters of former President Rafael Correa. Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso (L) and US President Joe Biden attend a working lunch with other heads of state during the 9th US Summit in Los Angeles, California, June 10, 2022. (Jim WATSON / AFP) Photo by JIM WATSON / AFP via Getty Images) Analysts say the political crisis and unrest have put the pro-US government of President Guillermo Lasso at risk of falling. A former banker, the conservative Lasso, won last year’s presidential election against his left-wing rival who was close to the former Korean president. Gustavo Izurieta, a researcher at the Instituto Ecuatoriano de Economía Política (IEEP), explains: “This political crisis has its origins in drug trafficking. Drugs going to the United States go by speedboat is one route and the other is from Ecuadorian ships with export products (bananas, pineapples, shrimp) to Europe “. “There was a very strong complicity between the previous governments that was quite close to these drug-funded left-wing movements,” Izurietta said. He said symbolic drug seizures by previous governments had changed to much larger and more important ones under Lasso. ECUADOR FORMER LEADER RAFAEL CORREA LEAVES LEFT GOVERNMENT PARTY Observers say former left-wing President Rafael Correa, who ousted in power in 2017, is a staunch opponent of the current government and still wields considerable influence and seeks to return to power at any cost, and to radicalize the well-known indigenous group. as CONAIE (Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Ecuador) is one of its strategies for taking power. One businessman, who did not want to be named, said street violence was part of a strategy used by left-wing radical groups to accuse the government of alleged repression. “The streets are not as spasmodic as the press and social media report. Most of the demonstrations take place in the capital, Quito.” So far, seven protesters have been killed since the riots began earlier this month. MCCAUL: US MUST WAKE UP AND INVEST IN LATIN AMERICA TO WIN CHINESE Oswaldo Toscano, a political analyst and university professor, noted that “since 2017, an institutional crisis has triggered an economic and social crisis,” he said. “An aggressive economic policy to reduce social spending has reduced health and education budgets. The pandemic has reduced, but not eliminated, the risk of a latent social explosion. What is not solved in politics is solved in the streets. Lasso continued with “The offensive cut social issues and this has caused today’s social outbreak. People on the streets not only support the demands of CONAIE, but also want the ouster of President Lasso.” Faced with one of the most decisive moments since taking office, Lasso said: “The people of Ecuador seeking dialogue will find a government with an outstretched hand, those seeking chaos, violence and terrorism will face full force of law, “he said. , stressing that the country must return to normalcy. FOREIGN POLICY PROVIDED FOR BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AS COLOMBIA ELECTS FIRST LEFT PRESIDENT According to the Associated Press, the indigenous confederation criticized the announcement and said in a press release that it shows that the government does not share the millions of people in poverty in Ecuador. Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso attends a meeting with members of the transport union as part of the fourth day of a national strike to protest President Lasso’s policies on June 15, 2022 in Quito, Ecuador. (Franklin Jacome / Agencia Press South / Getty Images) On Saturday, President Guillermo Lasso lifted the state of emergency imposed in six provinces after government officials held initial talks with protest leaders. It also comes as lawmakers discuss a demand by the opposition to remove Lasso from office amid a strike that has caused food shortages and hit the economy. “As the region turns left, Ecuador remains one of the United States’ main allies in Latin America. Cooperation between the two governments has become very strong and the departure of President Lasso would mean Ecuador, under his influence. Those of us who believe in the West are convinced that it is better to be with the United States and the European Union than with Russia and China, which have other geopolitical interests and ambitions. “, Noted Izuriet. José Isidro Morante, an analyst and associate at the Instituto Ecuatoriano de Economia Politica (IEEP), told Fox News Digital that important decisions need to be made to revive the economy. CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION Morante claimed that this was “because the powerful groups put pressure, for example, only super gasoline could be exempted from the subsidy, however the prices of other fuels can not be released because these powerful groups are the main beneficiaries of cheap fuels. “Drug dealers use fuel as a raw material. Indigenous people have groups smuggling cheap fuel into Peru and Colombia. They also use it for artisanal and polluting mining.” Observers believe the next few days will be crucial in determining the country’s future course, and have warned that Washington must closely monitor the outcome. Armando Regil Velasco reports on Latin American affairs. You can follow him @armando_regil
