ECUADOR PROTESTERS ENFORCE PRESIDENT'S AGENDA

The rise of President Rafael Correa in Ecuador and his open allegiance to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's government and regional agenda has created an interesting atmosphere in Latin American politics. The populist rhetoric introduces a number of questions and concerns about the newly elected president's capacity to bring political stability and economic growth to the troubled Andean nation. It also changes the balance of power in the Andean region, threatening future regional integration efforts.

* A constitutional assembly, as proposed by Correa, is unlikely to deliver the urgently needed reforms to ensure Ecuador's stability and economic growth. Rather, Correa's main vehicle of reform is designed to create a more powerful and interventionist government controlled by the executive which, as has been shown historically, will be challenged to find a sustainable solution to poverty.
* Correa's allegiance to the Chávez model will have a clear impact on the balance of power in the Andean region, as the Venezuelan leader's support will have to be repaid by endorsing a number of regional initiatives that will strengthen Venezuela's geopolitical reach.

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