It’s Election Day!
Wherever you go in Latin America, politics is, well, let’s just say a little different from what a normal Westener is used to. Corruption is widespread, government is generally an inefficient hassle instead of a help, etc. In Ecuador, though, things seem particularly bad. In the last ten years, not a single president was able to fully serve his term — they were all chased out of their office at one point or the other. Since 1997, the country has had nine different presidents (they are now electing their tenth). Government is a mess — half the country is stuck in unbelievable poverty while politicians and the upper class pocket the profits from the oil exports that are destroying the Amazon rain forest. General consensus regarding the election is that one should simply try to vote for that politican who will likely steal the least from his people.
Considering all this, it seems particularly strange how seriously this election is taken officially. Ecuadorians are forced to vote (though you are allowed to turn in an empty ballot). Furthermore, the so-called ley seca (“dry law”) forbids the sale of alcohol throughout the election weekend. Now, in a country with corrupt politicians and law enforcement, could you believe that such a law is actually enforced!? Supposedly, bars and restaurants are checked by undercover policemen and will be closed down at a single offence. Maybe because there is nothing else to do, the whole city seems to be out on the streets at the moment — to cast their all-so-important vote.
Excuse me for being cynical, it is just hard to think about this differently if you know what riches oil has brought to other countries and have to see every day just how horrible Ecuador’s poor are off.
Read more about the elections in Ecuador at tagesschau.de (in German).
