PAIS Alliance

Background

The beginnings of Alliance PAIS go back to the year 1999, when Ricardo Patiño impelled, together with Alberto Acosta, Patricia Dávila, Ivonne Benítez and others, the creation of Jubilee 2000 Net Guayaquil, an organization of the civil corporation that investigated, denounced and looked for ways to solve the distressing topic of the Ecuadorian foreign debt, also in which were integrated Rafael Correa, Gustavo Larrea and Fander Falconí. Alliance PAIS is due to its initial structure to movements like: Civic initiative, National Democratic Action, Alliance Bolivariana Alfarista, and the same Jubilee 2000. The current configuration of this movement is given with the participation of the Ecuadorian Socialist Party, humanist movements and social bases.

Main members of the party

The president of the party is Rafael Correa, among other important leaders at the present time can stand out: Lenin Moreno vice-president from the Ecuador, the president of National Assembly Fernando Cordero, the Alcalde of Quito Augusto Barrera, the assemblymen Fernando Bustamante, Aminta Buenaño, the ex secretary of planning Fander Falconí and the chancellor of the republic Ricardo Patiño.

National directive

The 22 vocales of the National Directive are Ricardo Patiño, Doris Soliz, Augusto Barrera, Irina Cabezas, Fernando Cordero, Nancy Morocho, Fander Falconí, María Luisa Moreno, Roberto Cuero, Ximena Ponce, Juan Carlos, Roxana Alvarado, Miguel Carvajal, Dora Aguirre, Jorge Loor, Gabriela Rivadeneira, Diego Borja, Patricia Sarzoza, Gustavo Baroja, Andrea Gonzaga, Leonardo Vicuña and Olguita Mejía.

Commission of Ethics: Karla Chávez, Carlos Marx and Galo Borja. The Electoral Commission: Mayerli Vásquez, Paúl Granda and Xavier Ponce. PAIS Alliance publishes El Ciudadano and the young wing of the AP is the Juventudes Alianza País.

First period

PAIS ("Proud and Sovereign Fatherland Alliance") was founded by Rafael Correa at the start of 2006 Presidential campaign. The movement espouses political sovereignty, regional integration, and economic relief for Ecuador's poor. During the campaign, Correa proposed a constituent assembly to rewrite Ecuador's constitution. Alianza PAIS did not run any congressional candidates, as Correa had stated that he would call for a referendum to begin drafting a new constitution. However, the Alianza PAIS movement signed a political alliance with the Ecuadorian Socialist Party, which did present candidates for Congress.

In the 15 October 2006 general election Correa obtained second place (22.84%) behind banana tycoon Álvaro Noboa (26.83%). Correa won the subsequent 26 November 2006 runoff election with 56.67% of the vote. He took office on 15 January 2007.

Constituent referendum

On 15 April, Ecuadoreans voted overwhelmingly (81.72% in favor) to support the election of a constituent assembly.

Constituent Assembly election

As a result, in the national election, President Correa won backing for his plans to rewrite Ecuador's constitution and expand state control of the nation's economy. Correa's faction won approximately 61% of the seats in the National Assembly (80 of 130 Assembly Members). The Constituent Assembly was originally led by Alianza PAIS member Alberto Acosta, who was then replaced by another PAIS member, Fernando Cordero.

Constitutional referendum

A constitutional referendum was held in Ecuador on 28 September 2008 to ratify or reject the constitution drafted by the Ecuadorian Constituent Assembly elected in 2007. Partial results show that 64% of voters voted to approve the 2008 Constitution of Ecuador.

Primary elections

For the first time in the political history of the Ecuador, a political party organizes and it selects its candidates by means of some primary elections. Alliance PAIS, organized the primary elections for January 25, 2009, in the whole country. The objective was that the members to the political movement can say that candidate would be postulated for the elections of April 26, 2009.

General elections

Rafael Correa was re-elected for a second term in general election on 26 April 2009. It was the first time in thirty years that the country had re-elected a president. PAIS also won the largest legislative block in the National Assembly, although not a majority.

In the elections for the Andean parliament. Alliance PAIS obtains 3 of 5 parliamentarian.

Rafael Correa was ratified as president of the movement in November 2010. Galo Mora was designated first secretary-general.

Political project

Their political project is denominated the Revolución Ciudadana and it is synthesized in five axes that are: Political revolution, Economic Revolution, Ethical Revolution, Social, Educational Revolution and of Health, Revolution for the Latin American Integration. With these postulates the movement PAIS seeks to transform to the Ecuador toward the socialism of the 21st century.

PAIS has an approximate membership of 1.5 million people as of 2011.

Alianza PAIS occupies the slot of party number 35 on the Ecuadorian ballot. The colours of Alianza PAIS are lime green and midnight blue. The slogan for the 2007 elections "Dale Patria" literally means "Go Fatherland".