Governments have for some time been in the practice of awarding meritorious honors to all cabinet ministers merely for the fact that they have held office at that level, without proving the merits for which the honor was conferred, even if they are accused or accused; In the past, this was not the case and they were awarded only to local or foreign persons, with or without public office, for merit in providing relevant services to Ecuador.

Recent governments have adopted this custom at the end of their terms of office, thus devaluing merit awards.

Stefan Zweig says that the position depends on the person holding it; It is not, therefore, the other way around that people appointed to high positions brag and praise that they were ministers or something similar, even though the citizens do not find any merit in their work, and they wear their decorations in their homes or offices. (By the way, I note that, on such an occasion, I excused myself from receiving it. Honors are not awarded en masse, en masse). We hope that the current Government, which will soon end its role, will no longer engage in this practice and re-value merit awards. That’s what happened in our republican past and that’s what happens in countries with tradition. Merits are individual and recognized by time.

Anecdotally, I will recall that when the famous President of France, General Charles de Gaulle, while touring Latin America, visited Ecuador in 1964, there was a military junta of four generals; the French government, following its tradition, awarded a decoration of the highest class, the Grand Collar of the Legion of Honor, to the person who presided over the committee; The chancellor at the time, to satisfy the four generals, asked France for four decorations; France did this, but no longer in the rank of Grand Cross, but only in the rank of Grand Officer. Here, with us, it was a laughing stock; Spicy comments were circulated, due to which the generals returned those decorations, which were considered second-rate. I mention this to point out that countries with ancient traditions do not share free-leaf ornaments.

Decorations should not even serve as a sign of gratitude to representatives of other state functions. A few years ago, at the end of the election process, the Government honored the president of the National Electoral Council (HNS). Judges, like Caesar’s wife, must not only be, but appear to be fair; Judges must be and appear to be impartial.

Now, when the CNE declares the elections abroad null and void because they themselves (with one exception) organized them poorly, and they organize the parliamentary elections to be held on the same date as the second presidential round, when the results are already known, the results of the first – and this was ratified by the Electoral court of disputes –, it is concluded that these election judges do not follow Caesar’s judgment on the fairness of women, existence and appearance. (OR)