After watching the news every morning and evening in Ecuador for the past month, I have come to realize that few stories reach the international conscience. Thus, it took me by surprise that John Oliver, host of the satirical news show Last Week Tonight, picked up a story about Ecuador’s president, Rafael Correa. In an era dominated by the 24-hour news cycle, it’s increasingly clear that the only sufficiently newsworthy pieces are the ones that can be made fun of. Oliver’s recent clip encouraged viewers to start a Twitter war with Correa after he shared personal information and social media sites of people critical of his government, with the intent of getting his supporters to tweet at them. While this late-night clip successfully caused some brief mayhem on social media and provided some nice click bait courtesy of a dancing clown, it did little to explain the forum in which Correa delivered this information, or the political ramifications behind it.
Since taking office eight years ago, Correa has delivered a weekly speech called “Citizen’s Link,” colloquially known as sabatinas—a reference to the fact that they are delivered every Saturday. A former professor, Correa is a prolific speaker; he has given 410 sabatinas to date, most of which run past the three-hour mark. Speaking directly to the public is not unprecedented among world leaders past or present. In the United States, Roosevelt’s historic fireside chats and Obama’s video messages on the White House website come to mind. However, Roosevelt’s reassuring radio reports and Obama’s scripted videos bear little resemblance to Correa’s extemporaneous and unpredictable sabatinas. Each Saturday, Correa travels to a different town in Ecuador, setting up a stage, inviting hundreds of citizens, and bringing along television anchors and cabinet members that contribute to the live spectacle.
Correa’s demonstrated interest in communicating with the Ecuadorian people in such a public manner shields the less altruistic goals behind his infamous sabatinas. By speaking to a new town every week, Correa does what any smart politician would do—praise people with whom he is speaking—thereby maintaining his populist base. As a lame-duck president, Correa seemingly need not concern himself with approval ratings. However, the National Assembly has introduced a measure to allow presidents to be reelected indefinitely. This constitutional amendment is expected to pass with the majority support of Alianza PAIS, the president’s party, conveniently before the 2017 presidential election. While discussing this amendment with my host mother, she posited that, if put up for referendum, this measure would almost certainly fail, given peoples’ trepidations about importing a Chavista-like regime from nearby Venezuela. Thus, the push for indefinite reelection represents less the will of the people and more the goal of a leader unsatisfied with relinquishing his power.
In his latest sabatina, Correa reaffirmed that indefinite reelection would only make him a candidate for president—the people must vote to keep him in office. Correa has overseen the implementation of numerous beneficial social policies, from the improvement of health care and education to the construction of a high-speed highway system. However, his glossy sabatinas and restriction of people’s voices do little to educate citizens on the economic and political crises brewing behind the scenes. If John Oliver managed to convey any meaningful message through satirical remarks, it is that Correa has been curbing freedom of speech. While some actions such as calling out critical voices on live television have clear goals, others are more subtle. Ecuador’s most widely circulated newspaper, El Comercio, which has previously provided a critical lens on the government, has recently been sold to a media magnate with close ties to the government and a history of not publishing dissenting views.
In the United States we may lament political gridlock and endless debates, but, like presidential term limits, these are fail-safes built into our democratic system. Democracy is a frustrating institution, and its checks on power leave many a world leader dissatisfied. In Ecuador at least, if members of the Assembly refuse to limit Correa’s power, John Oliver and the Twitterverse will.