Abstract

BASABE-SERRANO, Santiago  and  MEDINA, Pablo. Who Whispers in the Ear of the Presidents?: A Partisan Explanation to the Advice of Friends and Family. Ecuador in Comparative Perspective. Revista SAAP [online]. 2022, vol.16, n.1, pp.193-209.  Epub June 06, 2022. ISSN 1853-1970.  http://dx.doi.org/10.46468/rsaap.16.1.n1.

In this writing we explore whether the absence of partisan institutionalization can be a decisive factor for the priority presence of friends or family members as direct advisors and counselors to presidents. Although the influence of these intimate circles is inevitable in any space of power, what we argue is that when the formation of cadres within political organizations is deficient, the alternative for heads of state to receive support in the most transcendental issues is in people who enjoy their absolute trust, such as their close relatives or lifelong friends. From the comparison of Ecuadorian presidents Correa and Moreno, we observe that beyond the size of the ruling party’s bench in the legislature, when there is a deficit in the institutionalization of political parties, the emergence of friends and family as determining actors of the Executive’s policy is greater.

Keywords : Executive Power; Center of Government; Advisers; Political Parties; Ecuador.

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