Quito, Ecuador, Apr 3, 2008 / 18:09 pm
Representative Rossana Queirolo of Ecuador has decided to leave the ruling party Acuerdo Pais after an intense campaign by party officials to get her to change her position on abortion and the family.
Queirolo, who is a representative in the country’s Constitutional Assembly, said she would continue working with the Acuerdo Pais party “in issues that benefit the majority” of Ecuadorans but that she would no longer be a party member. She made her decision after she learned of the agreement made on Tuesday between party members and President Rafael Correa.
“At first I was pleased that they reached an agreement and a consensus at the meeting. But I am not in agreement with three of the six points,” she said, noting that the agreement left the door open for the legalization of abortion and same-sex unions.
“Point 4 of the agreement says that the new constitution would protect life from the moment of conception. However, I think I have been very clear and I have explained the dangers of allowing exceptions,” she said.