Eduardo González
The Popular Parliamentary Group has urged the Government to support Ecuador “in its process of fighting terrorism and organized crime, respect for human rights and democratic and institutional development.”
In a non-law Proposal presented on January 16 for debate in the Foreign Affairs Commission, the PP recalls that Ecuador is “a brother country with which Spain maintains excellent historical, cultural, economic and cooperation relations.”
Likewise, it regrets that, “for a few years now, Ecuador has been going through a serious political, social and economic crisis, which was aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic and which has caused strong polarization, high social conflict and an erosion of democratic institutions as a consequence of the activity of organized criminal groups.”
In this sense, PP remember that Daniel Noboa assumed, last November, the Presidency of the country “in a complex context that saw its hardest moment on January 9”, when “different criminal groups carried out actions that ended with more than one “dozens murdered.” Since then, “the country is facing an uptick in violence and insecurity led by organized crime with kidnappings, explosions, murders and prisoner escapes,” which forced the president to declare a state of emergency to confront the “serious prison crisis.” and security” and the “internal armed conflict” that the country is experiencing.
The motion also recalls that Ecuador has become “a key point on the cocaine route in South America”, that the homicide rate per 100,000 inhabitants “increased more than 300% in the last seven years” and that “several politicians and high-profile candidates have been assassinated, as was the case of Fernando Villavicencio in August of last year before the elections.” Since 2021, it continues, more than 400 deaths have been reported in Ecuador’s prisons due to clashes between rival gangs.
“All of the aforementioned events not only endanger the political, social and economic stability of Ecuador, but also represent an unprecedented attack on Ecuadorian democracy and a challenge to the legitimate government elected by Ecuadorians,” warns the Popular Group. Therefore, it is “essential” that the Ecuadorian Government takes measures to overcome the crisis, to bring to justice those who attack people and peaceful coexistence and to guarantee “political stability, institutional strengthening, respect for democracy and dialogue with all political and social actors.”
“Spain, as a friendly country and strategic partner of Ecuador, has the duty to support the Government and the Ecuadorian people in their process of fighting terrorism and organized crime, respect for human rights and democratic and institutional development,” warns the PP, which urges the Government of Pedro Sánchez to “condemn the criminal actions committed in Ecuador by organized groups”, to “support the efforts of the Ecuadorian Government to confront terrorism and organized crime in the country, through cooperation technical and humanitarian”, to “reaffirm Spain’s commitment to the economic, political and social development of Ecuador, as well as to the strengthening of its democratic institutions, the rule of law and human rights” and to “express the will to maintain and strengthen bilateral relations between Spain and Ecuador”.
Likewise, the Executive urges “to promote political and social dialogue between the Ecuadorian Government and all relevant actors, including the opposition, unions, business organizations, civil society organizations and the media, in order to to reach consensus and agreements that allow us to overcome polarization, confrontation and violence, and that favor peace, coexistence and national reconciliation”, and, finally, to promote regional and international cooperation with Ecuador “within the framework of the European Union, the Ibero-American Community, the United Nations and other multilateral organizations, to contribute to the solution of common problems that affect the region, such as migration, organized crime, climate change, security, drug trafficking, corruption and the defense of human rights.”
Last week, President Noboa visited Spain to present Ecuador as a guest country at the 44th edition of the International Tourism Fair (Fitur). During his meeting with Pedro Sánchez, the President of the Government conveyed Spain’s support for democratic institutions and its “strongest condemnation of the violent acts of criminal groups” and offered him “Spain’s willingness to deepen relations in this area.” of security, both at the bilateral level and within the framework of cooperation with the European Union.”
