Why anyone can be a diplomat in Ecuador
Ecuador’s foreign service has been systematically weakened in recent decades. Which once “was an example of professionalization in the region”, in the words of the former chancellor Juan Carlos Holguinaccording to the former minister, the deliberate plan of the government of Rafael Correa to deinstitutionalize key state entities has suffered. “The foreign service has played a vital role for the regional political project of 21st century socialism,” said Holguín Infobaereferring to the political use of diplomatic appointments as a tool to consolidate regime power.
This deinstitutionalization process weakened Diplomatic Academywhich allows people without adequate education to enter the foreign service under the number political quota. The Diplomatic Academy of Ecuador was closed on February 23, 2011 during the administration of Rafael Correa. The closure was justified on the grounds that the institution was not contributing adequately and that other mechanisms were needed to train diplomatic officers. The closure was part of a process of deinstitutionalization that characterized foreign policy at the time, according to statements by experts and former Foreign Service officials. In 2018 under the administration of the chancellor Jose Valencia, The academy was up and running again.
According to basic right of foreign service, The President of the Republic has the right to appoint up to 20% of the diplomatic staff, if these appointments correspond to persons over 35 years of age, s. recognized merit and that they borrowed relevant services into the ground. The Act states that the Office of the Comptroller General “shall ensure compliance with the provisions… for the purpose of registering appointments and payment of wages”. However, Resolution of the Constitutional Court No. 0043-2006-TCof 2006, adds that these strengths are understood as “a clear perception of the subtlety of their functions”, which introduces a degree of subjectivity into the norm.
Although the Audit Office could verify the professional and academic background of appointees as well as their career trajectories to ensure that they have adequate training and experience relevant to the function they will perform, or to conduct audits of the appointee’s management under a political quota, subjectivity would the ruling of the Constitutional Court made any form of observation of the institution difficult.
Since 2006, the Audit Office has not carried out general audits – because in specific cases – political quota appointments in the Foreign Service, as verified Infobae on the institution’s website. The Control Office could not respond to the questions of this media, which requested a press spokesperson, because the controller’s agenda was full.
Controversial cases: former soccer player, TV station manager, brother of CNE president and journalist
One of the most prominent cases of the political use of these appointments is the case of Emilio Valenciaa former soccer player who was appointed vice-consul in Cuba during Correismo. According to press files, Valencia was accused of mishandling funds at the consulate, a clear example for Holguín of insufficient preparation for the post. According to Holguín, “the deinstitutionalization of the Ecuadorian Foreign Service during the Correismo period occurred because of the appointment of consuls of people who were the result of political negotiations by voting in the assembly.”
During the reign of Guillermo Lasso, Sebastian Corralthe former manager and shareholder of Teleamazonas – an Ecuadorian television station – was appointed as Ecuador’s ambassador to the UK in October 2021 as part of a political quota. Although he had no previous diplomatic experience, Corral held this position due to his proximity to the government. However, his appointment soon faced questions due to his involvement as a shareholder in a trust that maintained contracts with the state, which constituted a conflict of interest, as ruled by the state Comptroller General’s Office in 2024.
The review office concluded that Corral should not have been appointed ambassador or served in the ministerial cabinet, as was the case after the diplomatic mission, because of these contractual ties with the state, which violated Article 152 of the Constitution. As a result, he received an administrative sanction and a fine of 20 basic salaries (around 9,200 USD) and was banned from public office for two years.
Another recent case that has sparked controversy is that of the Ecuadorian consul in Queens, New York, Vinicio Kar Atamainbrother of the President of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Diana Atamaint. Chancellor Gabriela Sommerfeld responded to criticism of this appointment by saying: “Yes, he is Diana Atamaint’s brother. However, there is no legislation that prohibits a person who works in one institution from having a relative work in another… This is a political position that the president wants.”
In these statements collected Universe In January of this year, Sommerfeld stated that Atamaint has the credentials for the position: “It is within his training international lawworked on human rights issues. You are authorized to go to the consulate in Queens, where there is a large presence of Ecuadorians. “He also worked with indigenous communities.
Infobae It has been confirmed that Consul Atamain has registered the degrees of Graduate in International Relations and Engineer in Sectoral Government Management at the Higher Education Secretariat. In public opinion, this designation was seen as a way to curry favor with the CNE president, as the electoral body at the time was checking signatures to officially register the movement of President Daniel Nobo.
Another appointment that has sparked controversy is that of a journalist Maria Grazia Acostawho was appointed Minister of the Ecuadorian Embassy in France in August 2024. Her appointment was strongly contested by career diplomats who indicated to Infobae with reservations that although he had to spend more than 10 years rising in the diplomatic hierarchy, Acosta reached the high-level position in less than a year. Acosta, whose experience in the public sector has been limited to an adviser to the current chancellor since November 2023, did not respond to Infobae’s requests to discuss the merits that justified her appointment. Instead, She blocked the media on the communication channel through which she was contacted.
When Infobae formally asked the State Department for information on Acosta’s “relevant services” and “recognized merit,” the institution relied on Personal Data Protection Act not provide information. However, this law does not apply to journalistic activity, as stipulated in Article 2 letter d), which excludes compliance with the aforementioned regulations in the context of journalistic production.
Given Acosta’s lack of response and the State Department’s refusal to provide information on his merits, Infobae checked their LinkedIn and X profiles to learn about their experiences. Acosta has a master’s degree in political communication and strategic managementbut lacks training in international relations, diplomacy, foreign policy, global studies, or experience in top-level diplomatic negotiations. Although she was an adviser to the current chancellor, her experience is related to her work in the media, especially in Teleamazonas. According to his profile, X speaks English, French and Italian in addition to Spanish.
Legitimate use of political quota
Internationally, recognized merit and relevant services They usually refer to a solid professional career, experience in diplomatic negotiations and technical expertise in key areas. For example, in the United States, political appointments to the Foreign Service must meet merit requirements and are subject to audit to ensure they are not used as political rewards. Some must go through Senate approval, as in the case of ambassadors. In Europe, diplomatic posts within political quotas are reserved for people with proven experience in promoting national interests and in international relations.
The political quota in Ecuador has a legitimate purpose: allow the president to appoint key people who share his vision to carry out foreign policy in line with his administration. However, this mechanism has been distorted when used to reward people or repay favors. As Holguín stated, “a political quota is necessary, but it must be applied ethically and responsibly. What is important is that the one who represents Ecuador has the technical, academic and, above all, ethical level to perform the function.
Between May 2021 and November 2023, during the unfinished mandate of Guillermo Lasso, 39 appointments were made under the political quota, while between November 2023 and August 2024, with Daniel Noboa, 31 people were appointed under this mechanism., according to information provided to this media by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The widespread use of the political quota, while legitimate in certain cases, can affect the professionalization of the foreign service and create unrest among career diplomats who see their development hindered by appointments that do not always meet the requirements of the law. To achieve strengthening in this area, Holguín proposes a “deep restructuring at the regulatory level” in the foreign service, for example by revising the forms of promotion in the diplomatic career.