Ecuador's Presidential Frontrunner Won't Attend First Debate

Frontrunner presidential candidate for the ruling Alianza Pais party, Lenin Moreno, refused an invitation to the first televised presidential debate organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Guayaquil on Wednesday saying it would not address key issues relevant to all sectors of Ecuadorean society.

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In an open letter, Moreno denounced “debates based on confrontation and on behaviors that degrade real politics as a tool at the ethical service of the country.” He was especially critical of the fact that issues concerning handicapped people, seniors, minors, and migrants were not on the debate agenda.

The debate, which will take place in Ecuador's economic capital of Guayaquil, will focus on nine topics: employment, taxes, macroeconomic policy, corruption, freedom of speech and opinion, security, drug consumption, governability, and social security.

Moreno said he will only participate in the debate scheduled for Feb. 5 by the national daily newspaper El Comercio, which was recently bought by Mexican entrepreneur Remigio Angel Gonzalez. In his letter, Moreno urged the seven other candidates to participate in the February debate.

Abdalá Bucaram Pulley, Guillermo Lasso, Washington Pesántez, Patricio Zuquilanda, Iván Espinel, Paco Moncayo and Cynthia Viteri have confirmed they will attend the debate, taking place at 9 p.m. local time in the coastal city of Guayaquil.

Meanwhile, Moreno will be attending the National Meeting of Youth, to which he was invited before the debate was planned.