Reuters AlertNet Lite - Ecuador lawmakers vow to reclaim seats in Congress

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

Ecuador lawmakers vow to reclaim seats in Congress

19 Mar 2007 20:47:29 GMT
Source: Reuters

QUITO, March 19 (Reuters) - Ecuador's fired opposition lawmakers on Monday vowed to break a police cordon and reclaim their parliamentary seats, keeping up the pressure on President Rafael Correa in the volatile Andean state.

Fifty-seven lawmakers have been fired for trying to block a referendum the populist president is proposing. The vote would set up a body to reduce the influence of congressmen in the judiciary and state companies.

The lawmakers refuse to accept their dismissal and last week barged through a police cordon to get into Congress. They promised to do the same on Tuesday.

"Either we all enter Congress or no one will," said Washington Vallejo, one of the 57 fired lawmakers. "We will defend Congress."

Correa, a leftist ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, since taking office in January has vowed to break the power of political elites, largely seen as corrupt, in the world's top banana exporting nation.

The fight with the lawmakers is the first major challenge for a president who has vowed to restructure the national debt and renegotiate oil deals. Congress has been instrumental in ousting three presidents in a decade.

(additional reporting Jose Llangari)

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Ecuador profile
· View map

• Venezuela profile
· View map

MORE >>

Latest news

• Ecuador lawmakers vow to reclaim seats in Congress

• Journalism a risky business in Mexico-media group

• Venezuela says new spy technology to fight drugs

• High Commissioner meets Colombian president; visits displaced Afro-Colombians

• High Commissioner chairs conference displacement in Colombia

MORE >>

Last updated:Mon Mar 19 20:52:11 2007