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Ecuadorean left demands early elections after Moreno imposes state of emergency

ECUADOREAN MPs have demanded early presidential and congressional elections after President Lenin Moreno imposed a state of emergency following mass strikes and protests.

A national strike of transport workers paralysed the country on Thursday in response to “the package,” a raft of neoliberal measures announced by Mr Moreno to appease the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Crowds of demonstrators clashed with police across the country, with video footage showing police attacking protesters – including by running one over in the capital Quito.

The state of emergency allows the military to put down demonstrations and restricts the right to protest.

But Gabriela Rivadeneira, who was president of the National Assembly under Mr Moreno’s predecessor Rafael Correa, called for an extraordinary session of the parliament to “remove President Lenin Moreno” and review his austerity measures, which go back years.

She is a member of the Citizens Revolution Movement, a group of former members of the ruling PAIS Alliance who broke away after Mr Moreno, having won the presidency on a platform of continuing Mr Correa’s socialist policies, reversed them and began a programme of privatisation and cuts while tearing up alliances with left-wing governments in Latin America and returning to Washington’s orbit.

“We echo what the people want — early elections,” Ms Rivadeneira said, arguing that they were “the only way to get past the political crisis.

“The package” includes an end to subsidised fuel that will raise the price of petrol from $1.80 to $2.30 (£1.46 to £1.87) per gallon and diesel from $1 to $2.20 (81p to £1.78), causing mass uproar. The measure will raise the price of public transport by an estimated 45 per cent.

The measures also include a reduction in public-sector workers’ annual holiday allowance from 30 to 15 days – with an added requirement that they “give” one day’s labour a month to their employer – as well as corporate tax cuts for banana plantation owners.

Workers Unite Front president Mesias Tatamuez said that the government had “taken off its mask and imposed the project ordered by the IMF, which places the full weight of the crisis on the people.”

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