MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Females take the top three seats in the new Ecuadorean National Assembly

Gabriela Rivadeneira elected president of the legislative wants the largest possible support for a controversial media bill

The newly elected Ecuadorean National Assembly sat for the first time this week and next week will take the oath of office to President Rafael Correa, who was re-elected by a landslide last February. The legislative with 137 members has a majority of members from Correa’s party Alliance Country Movement, and was elected for a four-year mandate.

Among the main issues of the National Assembly figures the approval of an amended Integral Penal Code to improve the fight against crime and the controversial Communications Bill which the opposition alleges is an attempt by the Executive to control the media although President Correa argues he wants “a free, independent press that reports and communicates, and does not defend private or partisan interests”.

Of the 137 lawmakers, 15 are national, six represent Ecuadoreans overseas (US and Canada; Europe, Asia and Oceania, and Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa), with the remaining 116 sent by the 24 provinces in which Ecuador is politically divided.

In the opening session and with 107 votes, the Assembly chose Gabriela Riavadaneira, only 29 years old, from Correa’s party as president of the one chamber Legislative for the next two years.

“Today we are opening a new chapter in the history of Ecuador”, said Rivadeneira in a speech in which she praised the achievements of the Correa administrations, and Ecuador and Latinamerica’s growing international clout. Two females were nominated for the two vice-presidencies, Rossana Alvarado and Marcela Aguiñaga.

Regarding the Communications Bill which is awaiting a final vote, Rivadeneira pledged to find mechanisms that include the criteria from the new members of the Legislative.

“We have an excuse and that is transition. We want all members of the Assembly, the 137 members to vote well aware of what is at stake”, said Rivadeneira who added she wanted all initiatives possible to be included in the final text. “This bill needs the greatest possible consensus”.