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Edited/Distributed by HURINet - The Human Rights Information Network
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## author     : wnu@igc.apc.org
## date       : 07.12.97
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          WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE ON THE AMERICAS
             ISSUE #410, DECEMBER 7, 1997
  NICARAGUA SOLIDARITY NETWORK OF GREATER NEW YORK
339 LAFAYETTE ST., NEW YORK, NY 10012 (212) 674-9499

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CONSERVATIVES TO CONTROL ECUADOR'S CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY

According to exit polls, Ecuador's rightwing Social
Christian Party (PSC) was expected to win the most seats in
Nov. 30 balloting for a National Assembly to reform the
country's 1978 constitution. According to the independent
polling firm Cedatos, the PSC was expected to win 24 seats
of the 70 available, followed by the center-left Popular
Democracy (PD) with nine, and then the Democratic Left (ID),
the Ecuadoran Rodolsista Party (PRE) of disgraced former
president Abdala Bucaram Ortiz, and an alliance between the
Alfarist Radical Front (FRA) and the Liberal Party (PL),
each with seven seats.

The Market firm showed somewhat different results: 20 to 24
for the PSC, 10 to 14 for the FRA-PL coalition, 10 to 12
each for the DP and the ID, and 5 to 7 for the PRE. Market
estimated abstention at 43%. Reportedly, the electorate was
confused at the polls because they were, for the first time,
voting for individual candidates rather than parties, with
approximately 1,000 candidates to choose from; each province
of the country elected its own representatives proportional
to its population. [El Diario-La Prensa 12/1/97 from EFE]
The Constituent Assembly was created by a referendum held on
May 25 of this year [see Update #382].