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A declassified U.S. diplomatic cable reveals the plans of Lucio Gutierrez, former president of Ecuador, to return to the country after being run out of office as president in 2005. Gutierrez asked a U.S. diplomat present at a dinner hosted by a Colombian politician to ensure his safety upon returning to Ecuador. He mentioned his intention to run again for president in the October 2006 elections (subsequently won by current president, Rafael Correa).
In April 2005, Gutierrez was ousted as president by a popular uprising amid charges of corruption and dictatorial maneuvering. Correa won the presidency in 2006 and again in 2009. In the latter election, Gutierrez accused Correa of election fraud, although international observers declared the election free and fair.
The cable shows the close nature of the relationship between Washington and pro-imperialist allies like Gutierrez.
It is widely believed that Gutierrez instigated a coup attempt in 2010 to remove Correa from office. Although this attempted coup failed, the political alignment of Gutierrez is made clear in this cable where he indicates U.S. support is needed to stem the rising anti-imperialist tide in Ecuador.
The cable reads: “In Gutierrez’s view, Economy Minister Rafael Correa is strongly anti-American and intends to run for president in 2006 an on a populist platform that would ‘target American interests.’ Both said that anti-American sentiment had increased in Ecuador in recent years and argued that the U.S. should “massively” increase public affairs efforts.”
