Loyalists of the Citizen Revolution Movement party were seen carrying a placard presenting Rafael Correa, Ecuador’s ex-president. Correa had recently expressed his views on platform X, condemning an interview I conducted with El País, in which I suggested his political faction was wrestling to diminish the growing admiration for the current leader, Daniel Noboa.
A renowned figure for his minimal patience for reproval, Correa’s comments came all the way from his refuge in Belgium, questioning the world about my credentials – ‘Caroline Ávila, does anybody recognize her?’. This was more than just words; it was a command to his vast follower-base.
In a matter of minutes, I was thrust into a whirlwind of digital debates – facing both the defense and offense from the public in response to my work. That was the day I fully comprehended the magnitude of Correa’s lasting impact on the Ecuadorean socio-political scene.
Physically absent yet mentally present, Correa continues to be one of the most pivotal and contentious personalities in Ecuador’s political framework. His legacy is maintained not just by the ones who support him, but also by his critics who find themselves constantly referring to him, yet remain unsuccessful in establishing a persuasive alternative.
Most opponents merely brush off Correa as a figure of the past, with no substantial role in the present. However, such dismissal seems to have only reinforced his hold over the Ecuadorean populace.
Correa’s rule spread across a decade from 2007 to 2017, witnessing significant growth in public investment. Plenty of oil revenue and financial support from China funded not only ambitious structural initiatives but also broadened the provision of healthcare and education services.
For a large number of Ecuadoreans, this era symbolized solidity and the prominence of a strong state authority. However, Correa’s reign was not immune from criticism.
Under Correa’s governance, concerns over the democratic fabric of the country arose from the centralization of power in the hands of the executive, the crumbling of institutional checks and balances, and ongoing aggression towards journalists and opposition leaders.
Since 2017, following the end of his term, Correa has been residing in Belgium in self-imposed exile. His plea for political asylum found favor with the Belgian authorities in 2022, who acknowledged his request and granted him asylum.
Back in his homeland, Correa has been found guilty in a corruption case, with an eight-year prison sentence awaiting him on Ecuadorean soil.