PAIS Alliance

PAIS ("Proud and Sovereign Fatherland Alliance") was officially founded by Rafael Correa at the start of 2006 Presidential campaign. Originally espousing democratic socialist views,[8] the movement called for political sovereignty, regional integration, and economic relief for Ecuador's poor.[19]

During the campaign, Correa proposed a constituent assembly to rewrite Ecuador's constitution.[20] PAIS Alliance did not run any congressional candidates, as Correa had stated that he would call for a referendum to begin drafting a new constitution. However, the PAIS Alliance movement signed a political alliance with the Ecuadorian Socialist Party, which did present candidates for Congress.[21]

In the 15 October 2006 general election Correa came in second place (22.84%), behind banana tycoon Álvaro Noboa (26.83%). Correa won the subsequent 26 November 2006 runoff election with 56.67% of the vote.[22] He took office on 15 January 2007.

On 15 April 2007, Ecuadoreans voted overwhelmingly (81.72% in favor) to support the election of a constituent assembly.[23]

In the national election, President Correa won backing for his plans to rewrite Ecuador's constitution and expand state control of the nation's economy. Correa's faction also won approximately 61% of the seats in the National Assembly (80 of 130 Assembly Members).[24] The Constituent Assembly was originally led by PAIS Alliance member Alberto Acosta, who was soon replaced by another PAIS member, Fernando Cordero.

A constitutional referendum was held in Ecuador on 28 September 2008 to vote on the constitution drafted by the 2007 Ecuadorian Constituent Assembly.[25] Partial results show that 64% of voters voted to approve the 2008 Constitution of Ecuador.[26]

For the first time in the political history of Ecuador, an organized political party selected its candidates by means of primary elections. PAIS Alliance organized primary elections for January 25, 2009, in the whole country. The objective was that the members of the political movement would name the candidates for the elections of April 26, 2009.[27]

Rafael Correa was re-elected for a second term in the general election on 26 April 2009. It was the first time in thirty years that the country had re-elected a president. PAIS also won the largest legislative block in the National Assembly, although not a majority.[28][29]

In the elections for the Andean parliament, Alliance PAIS obtained 3 of 5 parliamentarians.[30][31][32]

Rafael Correa was ratified as president of the movement in November 2010. Galo Mora was designated as the first secretary-general.[33]

On 1 October 2016, former Vice President Lenin Moreno was nominated as a candidate for the 2017 presidential election at the conference of País Alliance. The statement was made by President Rafael Correa.

In the 19 February 2017 election, Moreno won the elections with 39.3% of the vote. However he was short by less than one percentage point of outright victory, as Ecuador requires in its two-round system.[34] He defeated Guillermo Lasso in the 2 April 2017 second runoff with 51.16% of the vote.[35]

Within months of winning the election, Moreno moved away from his voting platform,[3] igniting a feud with ex-president Rafael Correa. Moreno distanced himself from populist policies championed by Correa and the Venezuelan government, arguing that Ecuador needed to be independent from ALBA.[36] Moreno continued to identify himself as social democrat throughout this process.[12]

In February 2018, Moreno led the 2018 Ecuadorian referendum and popular consultation, which proposed more strict corruption laws and more regulations to protect natural areas within the country.[37] The most significant proposal approved by Ecuadorians in the referendum was the re-establishment of term limits for the presidency, effectively blocking Correa's future electoral bids.[12] At the time, Moreno enjoyed an approval rating near 80 percent according to polls.[12]

Under Correa, the Ecuadorian government had begun to overspend and increase borrowing, with the country's debt tripling in a five-year period.[3] Moreno was tasked with overhauling Ecuador's economy, resulting in spending cuts.[3] The moves to reverse Correa's populist policies did not earn Moreno more popular support, however, and by April 2019 his approval rating had dropped to around 30 percent.[3][12] By early 2020, his popularity had tanked to 7,72%.[38]

The party did not participate in the 2006 election.