Assembly criticizes government for energy crisis; Colombia cuts electricity exports; Kronfle questions US base; Noboa wants to end public campaign financing

The National Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution condemning the government for its handling of the energy crisis. The measure alleged that officials were aware of the deteriorating conditions caused by the drought and delayed action in imposing power outages. The resolution alleged that the lack of timely response also “aggravated the security crisis and jeopardized Ecuador’s economic development.”

Colombia has announced it will reduce electricity sales to Ecuador due to drought affecting hydroelectric power generation.

According to supporters of the resolution, which was passed by 93 of the Assembly’s 137 votes, the government was advised by experts as early as July to begin daily power outages of one to two hours to save water in hydroelectric plants, but action was only taken when reservoirs reached a “critically low level.”

According to the sponsors, the government has also provided the public with confusing and contradictory information about the crisis. For example, a week before the blackout was announced, the Minister of Energy stated that there would be no blackout.

The resolution called on the government to deploy more police and soldiers on streets and highways during the blackout to ensure public safety.

Colombia reduces electricity exports to Ecuador
Colombia’s energy ministry said Thursday it is reducing energy sales to Ecuador due to the country’s drought. “Our first obligation is to guarantee optimal operating levels of the reservoirs in our hydroelectric system,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that it should rely more on thermal power generation, some of which is currently sold to Ecuador.

Colombian officials said almost no rain had fallen in the country’s vast Orinoquía region since July, and no rain was expected in the near future. The drought has not only affected the country’s hydroelectric power plants, but has also led to water rationing in some communities.

The Energy Ministry said that once the rains return and electricity supplies in Colombia improve, sales to Ecuador will increase.

Kronfle questions return of US base
National Assembly President Henry Kronfle said Friday that the United States may not be interested in re-establishing an anti-narcotics base in Ecuador. “Before we begin the process of revising the constitution, we have to determine if the United States is interested in having a base at all,” he said. “On several occasions they have said they would not return even if they were invited.”

President Daniel Noboa announced earlier this week his intention to amend the constitution to allow for a return of U.S. military counter-narcotics operations. The U.S. base in Manta closed in 2009 after the adoption of a new constitution that banned foreign military bases in Ecuador.

Kronfle, who says he supports “all efforts against drug gangs and cartels,” including allowing U.S. aid, argues that amending the Constitution would be a “waste of time” without a U.S. commitment.

Noboa wants to end public campaign financing
President Daniel Noboa announced Friday that he will seek a constitutional amendment to end government funding of political campaigns, arguing that the millions of dollars paid to political parties would be better spent on education and social programs.

Noboa said many of Ecuador’s 230 national and regional political parties exist solely to collect public funds intended for election campaigns. “Too many people make a business out of politics,” he said, suggesting the payouts hinder rather than help the democratic process.

The president wants to combine election reform with his proposal to allow the return of a U.S. anti-drug base to help in the fight against international drug traffickers. He proposed that both reforms could be put to voters in a single referendum.