How is the crisis in Ecuador going?

Since last October 3, Ecuador is in crisis. Due to the issuance of a decree to raise the price of gasoline, the country has been mired in protests against the decision, which has been called a "pack" (paquetazo). The demonstrations led President Lenín Moreno to decree the state of emergency in order to control the situation.

The national strike on October 9 sought to define the crisis because of the pack. The indigenous peoples of Ecuador decided to join the mobilizations and thousands of them marched against the "pack" (paquetazo) and some of them requested the president's resignation. Although there were violent clashes between the authorities and the protesters, Moreno said through his Twitter account that the protests developed normally.

As the BBC notes, "Vice President Otto Sonnenholzner also pointed out to the press that a dialogue had begun with the indigenous and workers' movements, supported by the UN, the Catholic Church and university rectors".

However, protesters contradicted the government's version and said that at the moment the dialogue that allows the country to overcome this crisis has not been initiated. The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE, in Spanish), through Twitter, denied the vice presidency and reported being victims of exaggerated violence by the authorities.

In addition, according to EFE, the Unitary Front of Workers (FUT, in Spanish) also denied the dialogues, although it confirmed that there were initial approaches. These were suspended because the FUT ensures that the government has not addressed the main approach of the marches: the suspension of the decree.

The country is already beginning to feel the economic consequences of the protests. The BBC explains that, due to the crisis, oil production has been reduced. In addition, there has been an increase in means of transportation, food shortages in the markets, and speculation on the price of food.

Also read: Peasants and indigenous people join protests in Ecuador

Leaders from other nations have shown their support for the Ecuadorian president. Sebastián Piñera, president of Chile, supported Moreno and Ecuadorian democracy.

For his part, Juan Guaidó declared that “while President @ Lenin Moreno works to maintain and strengthen the Republic and institutions of Ecuador, a group financed by Maduro's accomplices in America, taking advantage of the most vulnerable, seeks to end the stability of the country. Solidarity with Ecuador ”.

The tension between the government and the protesters continues to grow. The austerity measures promoted by Moreno have led sectors of Ecuadorian society to rise against the president. In fact, the president, in conversation with the BBC, said that former president Rafael Correa Nicolás Maduro is promoting violence.