Prensa Latina, Cuba

Ecuador Exec-Govt Skirting FTA Issue

6 December 2005

Quito, Dec 6 (Prensa Latina) The Ecuadorian executive and congress have been accused of politicking around a referendum on whether to sign a Free Trade Agreement with the US.

Legislator Antonio Posso from the Indigenous Pachakutik Movement said the banter between the Executive and Congress was a "ping pong" game to put off the consultation.

They lobbied to make Supreme Election Commission President Gilberto Vaca and SEC member Vicente Naranjo resign, allowing to restructure the SEC and stop the election.

He also called the maneuvering "a smoke screen" to sign the Free Trade Agreement for the Americas with the US under the table.