Abstract

SANCHEZ, Francisco. La Patria ya es de él: plebiscitary presidentialism, instrumental party and legislative elite in Ecuador. Perf. latinoam. [online]. 2022, vol.30, n.60, 00010.  Epub Apr 31, 2024. ISSN 0188-7653.  https://doi.org/10.18504/pl3060-010-2022.

This article explains the process in which a president without initial support in the legislative power and without a party could run a stable government with an ample parliamentary support. The president Rafael Correa provoked a shock in the institutional system that altered the balance of power that guaranteed solid parliamentary supports in the long run. This was due to the instrumentalization of the state and a plebiscitary conception of democracy. It was made possible given three elements: 1) a system of political representation in crisis, 2) a president with high levels of popularity and acceptance, 3) the president’s conviction that his decisions -in his capacity of direct representative of the people- could be above those of institutions and norms.

Keywords : Ecuador; presidentialism; populism; left; legislative elites; Rafael Correa; parties; representation.