After Pope Francis embarked on his trip to Bolivia Wednesday, President Rafael Correa shared his views on the pontiff’s visit and the opposition protests that have shaken the country in the last weeks.
The Ecuadorean president affirmed his beliefs in the “social doctrine of the Church” and highlighted his support and hope for dialogue to resolve tensions in his country.
“The Pope spoke very clearly, he said that no one can be excluded. Some interpret that at political level. No, we are talking about social exclusion. And the excluded have been the poor...the invisibilized, the indigenous, ethnic minorities,” Correa said in reference to opposition protests sparked after announcements to implement a wealth redistribution law.
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“The rich always have been present everywhere. They are not excluded. The excluded are the poor,” he said emphasizing this was the Pope’s message.
Correa said he hopes there will be a shift from the violent protests the country experienced in recent weeks, to peaceful dialogue.
“The doors are open to everyone to have dialogue based on the truth and the common goal, which is the homeland,” Correa said. “The dialogue is about what country we want in terms of social justice. We have been in dialogue eight years.”
Dialogue, the president said, “does not mean to please everyone, but it means to process conflicts properly.”
Correa further criticized the idea of “consensus,” saying this is part of “bourgeois democracy,” which attempts to “please everyone, but do nothing.”
The need for dialogue stressed by the Ecuadorean leader comes after opposition protests last week turned violent against police officers.
“We have to confront, but confront with ideas, not confront in the streets with stones, breaking the legs of the police,” Correa added.