Social Christian Party (Ecuador)
Encyclopedia
The Social Christian Party is a center-right political party
in Ecuador
.
The party was founded by Camilo Ponce Enríquez and was initially focused on Quito
. Since the 1980s, however, the party's popularity is greatest on the coastal areas, particularly around Ecuador's economic center and most populous city, Guayaquil
, and in coastal provinces, such as Guayas
, El Oro
, Los Rios
, and Manabi
, which constitute about half of the country's population. However, as a sign of deep regional divide on politics, the party has little power in the Andean
region. Thus, while holding all major positions in Guayas and Guayaquil, the PSC has not held the presidential office since the presidency of León Febres Cordero
, its only one until now. Sixto Durán Ballén
was president also but not as PSC's candidate. In fact, he was part of the political party until before the elections for the period 1992-1996, when he decided to split for his own party, the UR (Unión Republicana) because the PSC appointed Jaime Nebot
as their candidate. Nebot was the party's presidential candidate again in 1996. He won first place in the first round with 28% of the vote, but lost in the runoff with 46% of the vote.
Its candidate Antonio Xavier Neira Menéndez won 12.2 percent of the vote in the 2002 presidential election. Its candidate in the 2006 presidential election was Cynthia Viteri
. She garnered 9.91 percent of the overall votes cast and failed to enter into the second round of runoff voting
. Neira and Viteri both came in 5th place. At the 2006 legislative elections, the party won 13 of the 100 seats, much less than last period.
After León Febres Cordero decease, Jaime Nebot took the lead of the party, and split it into a coalition with his provincial brother party called "Madera de Guerrero", an allusion to a song of the folklore of Guayaquil
with the same name. This coalition is the third force in the National Assembly(parliament).
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
.
The party was founded by Camilo Ponce Enríquez and was initially focused on Quito
Quito
San Francisco de Quito, most often called Quito , is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains...
. Since the 1980s, however, the party's popularity is greatest on the coastal areas, particularly around Ecuador's economic center and most populous city, Guayaquil
Guayaquil
Guayaquil , officially Santiago de Guayaquil , is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador,with about 2.3 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 3.1 million in the metropolitan area, as well as that nation's main port...
, and in coastal provinces, such as Guayas
Guayas Province
Guayas is a coastal province in Ecuador. It is bordered to the west by Manabí, Santa Elena, and the Pacific Ocean ; to the east by Los Ríos, Bolívar, Chimborazo, Cañar, and Azuay; to the north by Los Ríos and Bolívar; and to the south by El Oro and the Pacific Ocean.With a population of over 3...
, El Oro
El Oro Province
El Oro province is the southernmost of Ecuador's coastal provinces. It was named for its historically important gold production. Today it is one of the world's major exporters of bananas. The capital is Machala.-Geography:To the north and east the province has borders with the provinces Guayas,...
, Los Rios
Los Ríos Province
Los Ríos is a province in Ecuador. The capital is Babahoyo. The province was founded on September 30, 1948 under legistative decree. Its capital Babahoyo was founded October, 6, 1860...
, and Manabi
Manabí Province
Manabí is a province in Ecuador. Its capital is Portoviejo. The province is named after the Manabí people.-Economy:Manabí's economy is based heavily on natural resources such as cacao, bananas, cotton, etc. It's industrial sector is based on Tuna canning, tobacco, and alcoholic beverage production...
, which constitute about half of the country's population. However, as a sign of deep regional divide on politics, the party has little power in the Andean
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
region. Thus, while holding all major positions in Guayas and Guayaquil, the PSC has not held the presidential office since the presidency of León Febres Cordero
León Febres Cordero
León Esteban Febres-Cordero Ribadeneyra was President of Ecuador for a four-year term from 10 August 1984 to 10 August 1988...
, its only one until now. Sixto Durán Ballén
Sixto Durán Ballén
Sixto Alfonso Durán-Ballén Cordovez is an U.S.-born Ecuadorian political figure and architect. He served as Mayor of Quito between 1970 and 1978, and as president of Ecuador between 1992 and 1996...
was president also but not as PSC's candidate. In fact, he was part of the political party until before the elections for the period 1992-1996, when he decided to split for his own party, the UR (Unión Republicana) because the PSC appointed Jaime Nebot
Jaime Nebot
Jaime Nebot is an Ecuadorian politician. He currently serves as mayor of Guayaquil, which is Ecuador's largest city. Although he is affiliated with the Social Christian Party, he has distanced himself from it and now concentrates more on running the city...
as their candidate. Nebot was the party's presidential candidate again in 1996. He won first place in the first round with 28% of the vote, but lost in the runoff with 46% of the vote.
Its candidate Antonio Xavier Neira Menéndez won 12.2 percent of the vote in the 2002 presidential election. Its candidate in the 2006 presidential election was Cynthia Viteri
Cynthia Viteri
Cynthia Fernanda Viteri Jiménez de Villamar is an Ecuadorian advocate, journalist and politician.On 15 October 2006, she took part in the Ecuadorian presidential election and got 525,728 votes, representing 9.63% of the total poll.Website: -References:...
. She garnered 9.91 percent of the overall votes cast and failed to enter into the second round of runoff voting
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
. Neira and Viteri both came in 5th place. At the 2006 legislative elections, the party won 13 of the 100 seats, much less than last period.
After León Febres Cordero decease, Jaime Nebot took the lead of the party, and split it into a coalition with his provincial brother party called "Madera de Guerrero", an allusion to a song of the folklore of Guayaquil
Guayaquil
Guayaquil , officially Santiago de Guayaquil , is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador,with about 2.3 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 3.1 million in the metropolitan area, as well as that nation's main port...
with the same name. This coalition is the third force in the National Assembly(parliament).