Ecuadorian president unveils new cabinet

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa Thursday unveiled his new cabinet after the former cabinet resigned in full in October, the largest cabinet reshuffle since he took office in 2007. During the inaugural ceremony, Correa asked the new ministers and officials to advance the political process known as the "Citizen Revolution," which he promotes to achieve social inclusion and equality in the country. "Welcome, and don't fall back in this Citizen Revolution that is now a legend," Correa said. Ecuador's former cabinet resigned in late October at Correa's request. Most of the former ministers hold posts in the new cabinet, though many have now been appointed to different posts. Correa said reshuffling the cabinet was necessary. "We are changing (the cabinet) not in a moment of crisis or low popularity, but in one of the moments of largest popular support for the government," he said. Correa has asked his ministers to resign several times since he first took office in 2007. Political analysts said Correa made the decision to ensure broad political support for his judicial and media reforms, which, according to the president, are needed to get rid of corrupt and inefficient judges and let police fight crime better. Correa said he would probably keep this cabinet until the end of his term in 2013. Among the 15 new appointments, Janeth Sanchez will be the new economic policy coordinating minister, replacing Katiuska King. Former congresswoman Betty Tola has been appointed as the new policy coordinating minister to replace Doris Soliz. The former director of the National Custom Service Santiago Leon will be the new coordinating production minister, replacing Nathalie Cely, the new Ecuadorian ambassador to the United States. Fender Falconi, the former foreign minister, has been appointed the new planning and development minister. Other ministries being reshuffled include Housing, Migration, Indigenous Peoples, Education, Science and Technology, Intelligence, The Central Bank and the Technical Commission for Regional Finances.