ECUADOR: As Simple As That

When Ecuador’s Constitutional Assembly met in Quito last fortnight to name the country’s next President, the Conservative majority was all primed to sack dictatorial President José Maria Velasco Ibarra. Conservative Boss Mariano Suárez Veintimilla had passed the word.

But Velasco’s boys had overheard, were prepared. Just before the balloting started, pro-Velasco Army officers filled the lobbies, toying conspicuously with their revolvers and kicking their sabers about. When the electors filed in, picked Velasco rooters also glared ominously from packed galleries. At 2 a.m. voting began. One by one, to the horror of Boss Suarez, sweating Conservatives stood up and voted for reelection. It was Velasco, 43-to-10—as simple as that.