Protests against the government’s International Monetary Fund (IMF) policies continue in Ecuador. While the roads have been closed and tensions rise from time to time during the protests carried out by student and worker groups and social organizations in Ecuadorian capital city of Quito and other regions since 13 June. Meanwhile, Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso made a statement about the situation on his social media account. “I promised to protect the capital and the country,” Lasso said in his statement. Lasso also stated that activities such as gatherings and marches are banned for 30 days in Pichincha Province, which includes Imbabura, Cotopaxi and Quito. Emphasizing that a curfew will be imposed in Quito from 10:00 pm to 05:00 am local time, Lasso also explained the emergency measures taken to support families in distress, simultaneously with the declaration of the state of emergency. In this framework, the government will freeze all fuel prices, cancel the privatization of public services, and declare a state of emergency in the health care system, to which protesters are reacting. Farmers will be offered a 50 percent subsidy to purchase fertilizers, as well as the opportunity to receive term loans of up to 5,000 Dollars.
On the other hand, Ecuador’s $6.5 billion deal with the IMF expires this year. The agreement included tax increases, removal of subsidies and more economic aid for vulnerable sectors.
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