Public policy for the strengthening of democracy in Ecuador

The new Ecuadorian institutionality has created a large number of mechanisms of representation, direct democracy and participation. These are contained in the Constitution and organic laws, which gives a regulatory framework that constitutes itself the promoter of the democratic exercise. In the applying of the policy of strengthening of democracy, there are forces and positions from various actors. It can be seen that among the activators of the participation of actors, the government itself is the most important, accompanied by organized, old and new social ones. Others demand a more radical participation on the one hand, and on the other hand another third group despises a popular presence in the state. The conventional communication media have been the main spokesmen of the last group. In the applying of the policy of participation, various forces have acted by developing some mechanisms, hiding others or distorting its original meaning. About all of these, the actors have expressed their positions and interests. Despite these tensions, political participation as such has become dynamic and strengthened.