The 2019 Ecuadorian protests are an ongoing series of protests and riots against the end of fuel subsidies and austerity measures adopted by President of Ecuador Lenín Moreno and his administration. Ecuadorian president Lenín Moreno was elected in 2017 on his PAIS Alliance's pledge to follow with outgoing President Rafael Correa's left-wing economic policies that had transformed Ecuador through The Citizens' Revolution. Correa had established large social welfare programs and successfully managed to reduce poverty, while at the same time increasing the average standard of living in Ecuador. At the time, Moreno was primed to be the maintainer of socialism of the 21st century in the country.
However, following his election into office, Moreno shifted the PAIS Alliance's stance more to the right through a process of "De-Correaization", abolishing many of Correa's policies, abandoning the altermondialist ALBA in favour of closer ties to the United States, and pursuing a neoliberal economic policy which alienated both former President Correa and a large percentage of his own party's supporters. Moreno's economic policies proved very unpopular with the citizens of Ecuador, resulting in a drop of his approval ratings from 70% in 2017 to under 30% in 2019. This culminated in Moreno's decision to abolish a fuel subsidy, which had until that point secured affordable gasoline and diesel for Ecuadorian citizens. This enraged certain sectors of Ecuadorian society, triggering the start of the protest movement.
The protests began on 3 October 2019, as taxi, bus and truck drivers came out in protest against the planned fuel subsidy abolition. Indigenous peoples groups joined the protests shortly thereafter, along with university students and labour unions. The protesters declared their intention to hold an indefinite general strike, which would last until the government overturned its decision. President Moreno declared a state of emergency on 4 October 2019, amid nationwide protests against a hike in fuel prices. The protests had crippled the country's transport network with all major roads and bridges blocked in the capital Quito. Shortly thereafter, President Lenín Moreno categorically refused to discuss a potential reversal of the abolition, saying said he would "not negotiate with criminals", sparking clashes between the National Police of Ecuador and protesters, which were attempting to break into the Carondelet Palace in Quito.
On 7 October, the Armed Forces of Ecuador were deployed by the Ecuadorian government to force protesters to release over 50 servicemen, which were being held captive by protesting indigenous groups. On 8 October, President Moreno said his government had relocated to the coastal city of Guayaquil after anti-government protesters had overrun Quito, including the Carondelet Palace. On the same day, President Moreno accused his predecessor Rafael Correa of orchestrating a coup against the government with the aid of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, a charge which Correa denied. Later that day, Ecuadorian authorities shut down oil production at the Sacha oil field, which produced 10% of the nation's oil, after it was occupied by protesters. Two more oil fields were captured by protesters shortly thereafter. Demonstrators also captured repeater antennas, forcing State TV and radio offline in parts of the country. Indigenous protesters blocked most of Ecuador's main roads, completely cutting the transport routes to the city of Cuenca. Former president Rafael Correa stated that President Moreno was "finished" and called for early elections.
On 9 October, protesters managed to briefly burst into and occupy Ecuador's National Assembly, before being driven out by police using tear gas. Violent clashes erupted between demonstrators and police forces as the protests spread further. Moreno declared that he would refuse to resign under any circumstance and imposed a night-time curfew on the nation. On 10 October, Ecuador remained paralyzed as thousands of demonstrators marched and chanted demands for the return of the fuel subsidy and the resignation of President Moreno. While initially peaceful, violence erupted after the demonstrators were faced with Ecuadorian police, which attempted to disperse the demonstration using tear gas. Demonstrators responded by throwing stones, molotov cocktails and tube-launched fireworks at the mounted riot police officers sent to disperse them. Ecuador's Energy Ministry reported that the country's main oil pipeline had ceased operating after being seized by indigenous protesters.
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