Bids to retain power

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34032, 22 December 1975, Page 17

Bids to retain power

IN ECUADOR (N.Z.P. A. Reuter —Copyright) QUITO, Dec. 21, President Guillermo Rodriguez Lara of Ecuador has announced that he will call a plebiscite in his battle to remain in power. General Rodriguez Lara, who has been under mounting pressure to resign from Opposition civilian groups, said last night that he would put his proposals for a new Constitution before the people. He has ruled the volatile republic with a military Government since 1972. He also said that he would be announcing a new statute for political parties — a clear indication that he does not want to surrender power to the traditional, mainly Conservative, ' political groups. The Opposition parties, which have backed an abortive coup d’etat attempt and a series of strikes in attempts to topple the President, have called for a General Election.

IN MALAGASY TANANARIVE, Dec. 21. Four million residents of the Malagasy Republic are voting in a referendum today on the “Charter of the Malagasy Socialist Revolution” proposed by President Didier Ratsiraka, who came to power in February after the assassination of President Richard Ratsimandrava. The charter is contained in a “Little Red Book,” and is inspired by Marxism. Maoism, and the thoughts of North Korean leader, Kim il Sung. It says: “The Socialist way of development is the only way for Madagascar.” - If the charter is accepted, and observers expect it to be, the “Democratic Malagasy Republic” will be created. The electorate will vote on the question: “For the creation of a new society where justice and social equality will reign, do you accept the Charter of the Malagasy Socialist Revolution, and the Constitution annexed to it, and in applying it, Didier Ratsiraka as president of the republic, head of the nation, and leader of the country?”