Ecuador has a tradition of politics by remote control; former presidents and powerful politicians have often pulled government strings from afar.

This week saw another example of the phenomenon, when Magdalena Barreiro, President Alfredo Palacio's nominee for finance minister, said she would not accept the post unless she received the backing of Rafael Correa, the outgoing minister.

That the appointment depended more on Correa -- who was forced out last week after clashing with Palacio -- than the president powerfully illustrates the fragility of an administration that has been in office less than four months.

While Palacio focuses on clinging on to power until elections next year, Correa may be preparing his own presidential or vice-presidential bid. Youthful, handsome and charismatic, the former academic is weighing whether he can translate support on the streets into votes. In the meantime, freed from the constraints of government, he may come to enjoy greater political influence.

''This government was born weak,'' said Mauricio Pozo, a former finance minister. ``It wasn't elected and it doesn't have a political party or deputies in Congress. Moreover, it doesn't have the time or the political freedom to achieve the fundamental political change most Ecuadoreans want.''

Correa's belligerence toward the United States and multilateral lenders, combined with his support for populist domestic policies, made him the most popular member of the administration.

By contrast, polls show the president's approval ratings have plummeted from 78 percent when he took office to 38 percent. As supporters of Correa threatened social unrest this week in protest at his departure, Palacio said he would resign if the Ecuadorean people demanded it.

Although the pugnacious Correa has gone, his policies will remain as part of the backroom deal done this week to secure his support for Barreiro's appointment. Specifically, Correa wanted to ensure increased social spending funded by oil revenues and the completion of a deal to sell up to $300 million in bonds to Venezuela.

The bond sale has caused consternation in Washington, where Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is viewed as a malevolent force with imperialistic ambitions. Besides the loan, Caracas has also offered to refine Ecuador's oil. Some in the State Department worry about what political favors Venezuela will expect in return.

''Ecuador is one country Chávez has identified as ripe to be part of his regional project,'' said Michael Shifter, of the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington. ``The Bush administration is unhappy about Venezuela extending its influence in this way.'

But Shifter says the United States is concerned about pushing Ecuador further into Chávez's embrace. Also, the Ecuadorean government has aimed some barbed comments at the United States.