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Andean Group - September 2013 (ISSN 1741-4466)

POLITICS & ENVIRONMENT: Correa ups the ante over Yasuní

President Rafael Correa is in full campaign mode to win support for his government’s decision to change tack completely and drill for oil in the Yasuní national park. Correa’s decision to issue an executive decree on 15 August declaring it to be in “the national interest” to begin the exploitation of oil in Yasuní is hugely controversial. He blames “the world” for letting Ecuador down by failing to back a novel proposal to stump up US$3.6bn to leave the oil untapped; his opponents, ranging from the emasculated political opposition and indigenous groups to environmental activists and a strong youth element argue that he is not only reneging on one of the core policy commitments championed by his government but also trampling on the very backbone of the constitution which enshrines the ‘rights of nature’.

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