Rafael Correa Says Return to Ecuador is Just a Matter of Time

Orinoco Tribune, June 27, 2024 — 

The former president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa (2007-2017), said that his return to the South American country, where he is being persecuted in one of many lawfares against leftist leaders in South America, “is a matter of time,” especially given the possibility of a victory for his political movement Citizen Revolution in the 2025 elections.

“The return to Ecuador is a matter of time,” said Correa from Caracas. “We are the largest movement, thank god and the Ecuadorian people, and we have great faith in winning in 2025.”

He added that his organization faces the judicialization of politics in Ecuador, which has led to the entire senior staff of the movement being exiled, as in his case. Correa has resided in Belgium since 2017, where he has refugee status. Others have been imprisoned, such as his vice president, Jorge Glas.

Despite this, Correa was confident of his impending return to Ecuador, since he has asked the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations (UN) to review his case, a process that, he admits, “takes years—and already the damage is done.”

“But no serious justice system in the world is going to accept the ridiculous ruling that a former president could be convicted of psychic influence,” said Correa. “And this, a day before I registered as a candidate, thus preventing me from participating in the 2021 presidential election.”

Looking ahead to the 2025 elections, in which President Daniel Noboa is expected to seek re-election, Correa said that his movement has “plenty” of potential candidates for the race, without announcing any names.

“I am not going to advance anything because in August the candidates will be known, said Correa. “Thank god we have plenty of cadres, we have been preparing,” Correa reiterated that in this race, the Citizen Revolution will face both “right-wing parties” and “their media.”

Noboa’s economy is “a disaster”

Regarding Noboa, who came to power last November and has ordered a strong police and military operation against organized crime, the former president believes that it is “pure show” and assured that the right-winger “is collapsing in the polls.”

“People have already realized the economy is a disaster, this government is corrupt, and that this man is authoritarian; it is collapsing,” said Correa of the Noboa administration. “He has an impressive communication machinery; he has all the millions [of dollars] in the world to lie, and social networks, to try to impress young people.”

Noboa “has never been prepared to govern,” said Correa,