RELIGION IN ECUADOR'S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

UNCLAS QUITO 002625 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS PLEASE PASS ALSO TO USOAS AND USAID/LAC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM EC SUBJECT: RELIGION IN ECUADOR'S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN REF: QUITO 2517 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Rafael Correa has taken a page from his presidential rival Alvaro Noboa's success in the first round by increasing his use of religion as a campaign crutch, drawing criticism and public comment from the Catholic Church and political observers. Meanwhile, evangelical groups are not energized by either candidate--the largest indigenous evangelical group here will not offer its endorsement. Since both candidates are now engaging in shallow religious appeals, the effect of religion in this campaign is unlikely to be decisive in second round voting on November 26. Voters are more apt to be swayed by secular populist hopes of jobs and benefits for the poor. End Summary. Candidates Invoke Religion -------------- ¶2. (U) Since first round voting on October 15, both the Correa and Noboa campaigns have taken on religious trappings. For Noboa, this is nothing new (see reftel). Since the outset of the campaign he has brandished a Bible, sported a heavy crucifix, prayed, anointed himself the "candidate chosen by God" and even "laid hands" on the sick. Typical of the Noboa style is his invocation of God's will in his favor: "Yes, we can build houses for Ecuadorians, glory to God and Viva Ecuador!" ¶3. (U) What is new is Correa's effort to show his own religious faith: he has conspicuously attended mass almost every day since running second to Noboa in the first round, participating in the ceremony by reading from the Bible, and publicly affirming his Catholic faith, trumpeting his Catholic upbringing and education and his year serving as a Salesian missionary to indigenous areas after graduation. Church Rebukes Both Campaigns -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Catholic Church's Episcopal Conference issued a statement on October 20 rebuking both candidates for their crass religious appeals, urging them instead to focus on offering proposals to help the poor, develop the country, and promote political stability. Ecuadorian Episcopal Conference President Monsignor Nestor Herrera and Vice President Monsignor Jaime Bravo on October 23 told PolOff the Church was particularly appalled at Noboa's use of religion to sway voters by proselytizing and claiming miraculous healing powers. Correa's publicized church appearances were considered more appropriate by the Church leaders. Bravo and Herrera said the Church would remain impartial, but would continue to speak out against abuse of religion to win votes. Meanwhile, on October 28, Noboa lashed out against the Church,s statements, saying, &no church should intervene in Ecuadorian politics - not the Protestants, not the Catholics, not the Jehovah,s Witnesses.8 He pledged to continue invoking God in the campaign and said the Church should mind its own business. ¶5. (U) Other secular voices have criticized the use of religion as making a spectacle of Ecuador's political process, and attempting to return Ecuador to the dark ages of its colonial past, when the Church had a direct role in politics. Indigenous Evangelicals Pessimistic, Not Aligned -------------- --- ¶6. (SBU) Marco Murillo, national director of FEINE, an evangelical Christian indigenous organization formerly supportive of ex-president Gutierrez, told PolOff on October 27 that FEINE will not support either presidential candidate or, for that matter, any political party. Murillo claimed neither campaign has made any overtures to his movement. Since both candidates are Catholic, Murillo did not think most evangelical Christians would be motivated to support them on religious grounds. (Note: Evangelicals make up about 12% of the Ecuadorian population.) ¶7. (SBU) According to Murillo, FEINE's interests are to promote religious tolerance, indigenous and campesino development and political reform, regardless who wins. He doubted a businessman like Noboa would be truly committed to help the indigenous poor. Murillo was no more positive about Correa; he worried the political instability and confrontation Correa represents would undermine prospects for progress. ¶8. (SBU) Murillo believed both candidates were using religion in their campaigns only for populist appeal. Despite Noboa's use of evangelical signals during the campaign, including brandishing a Gideon rather than Catholic Bible, and casting campaign events in the style of evangelical revival meetings, Murillo did not believe Noboa would be any more sympathetic to evangelicals or religious tolerance. He was dismayed that the story about Noboa's use of a Gideon Bible was criticized by fervent Catholics as an outrage. Murillo said he doubted Noboa was attempting to reach out to evangelicals--more likely he accidentally grabbed the wrong bible from his hotel room. Comment -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Religious appeals likely will not benefit either candidate in the second round. Indeed, informed pollsters predict that Noboa's more "mystical" appeals could actually hurt Noboa. In contrast, Murillo and others believe Noboa's blatant promises and handouts are having a real impact on poor voters. For many indigenous poor, by this view, Correa's talk of political reform, corruption, and other esoteric subjects cannot compete with a bag of rice. JEWELL