Ecuadorian striking transport workers are demanding either the withdrawal of austerity measures or the resignation of President Moreno.
This meant that Ecuador woke up on Thursday with a total stoppage of activities as a result of the nationwide strike announced by transport workers and taxi drivers to protest against the "Paquetazo", a package of austerity policies which President Lenin Moreno announced Tuesday in order to comply with suggestions presented by the International Monetary Fund in return for billions of dollars in loans.
"Finally the government took off its mask and raised the neoliberal project ordered by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which places the full weight of the crisis on the people," the Workers' Unitary Front president Mesias Tatamuez said.
Moreno, who won the 2017 elections with the support of social movements and leftist organizations, signed a decree to eliminate fuel subsidies and index their prices at international prices. According to telesurenglish.net, this decision would see diesel gallon price increasing from US$1 to US$2.2 and the gasoline gallon price will rise from US$1.8 to US$2.3.
