On August 10 next year, it will be 45 years since the beginning of the democratic period. On that day Jaime Roldós assumed the duties of President of the Republic and what was called the National House of Representatives at that time and for a very short time was established. Previously, in January 1978, a referendum was held at which the Constitution was adopted, and in April of the same year, the first presidential round was held. The tricks and ploys of one sector of the military government (which included the assassination of former presidential candidate Abdon Calderón Muñoz) failed in their attempts to stop the process, but succeeded in prolonging it so much that the second round was held nine months after the first. Despite all these vicissitudes, Ecuador, together with the Dominican Republic, became the Latin American forerunner of what would later be known as the third wave of democratization.

In any other country, the approaching date would be a reason not only to mark, but also to celebrate, and above all to take a close look at achievements and mistakes. In Argentina, which is going through more serious episodes than ours (yes, it can always be worse), marking its forty years of democracy is an issue that is part of the political agenda. This also happened in Chile with various anniversaries of the end of the dictatorship and became common in many countries on the continent. Indeed, in these parts, the date will, it seems, pass without any mention except for notes – surely focused on the negative – that will appear in secondary places in a few newspapers. Until then, we will embark on a new election campaign, surely looking for a way to make life impossible for Noboa, if he wins, or we will experience de-dollarization with González if the Electoral Council so decides.

In… another country, the approaching date would be a reason not only to mark, but also to celebrate…

It could be assumed that the weak interest in that anniversary is in clear agreement with the decrease in support for the democratic regime, which is reflected in surveys that investigate the values ​​of citizens. Undoubtedly, some relationship must exist, but this lack of interest in democracy seems to come from the long past, even from the very moment of the difficult transition. It is worth remembering that there were parties, political figures and social organizations that felt comfortable with the military dictatorship and bombarded attempts at change (which, to be fair, must be said to have come from the hands of a part of the army led by General Richelieu Lavoyer). . Dissatisfied with that, from the day of the presidential inauguration, some dedicated themselves to smearing the weak, newly established regime. They filled it with pejorative adjectives so much that when three presidents were deposed, only an isolated voice called them by their real name, a coup d’état, while the citizens and politicians she elected celebrated in the streets and took over the destroyed institutions. storm. In these conditions, no one was surprised – and few were bothered – that a figure in folklore shirts and charged with emotional trauma took over the institutions and declared himself the people.

It wouldn’t hurt if, in the midst of the calculations of the current campaign, we make room for the anniversary in 2024. Perhaps a strange feeling of self-criticism would awaken in us. (OR)