Ecuador's draft charter favors leftist president

[Judi Lynn]

Jul 24, 3:53 AM EDT
Ecuador's draft charter favors leftist president

By GONZALO SOLANO
Associated Press Writer

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) -- A proposed new constitution grants Ecuador's leftist President Rafael Correa broad powers including the ability to dissolve Congress and set monetary policy, and would let him stay in office through 2017.

The charter, up for initial approval Thursday, is needed to help wrest power from Ecuador's widely discredited traditional political parties and more equitably distribute wealth, the U.S.-trained economist who took office in January 2007 said.

Correa's detractors say the proposed constitution would concentrate excessive power in his hands and amount to a virtual coronation of the self-avowed Christian socialist leader.

The 444-article proposal is expected to be approved Thursday by the constituent assembly elected to write it. Correa's Alianza Pais party controls more than 60 percent of the 130-member assembly.

If it is passed, the nation's voters will decide Sept. 28 whether to adopt it.

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