Ecuadorians demonstrated this Sunday through voting broad support for President Daniel Noboa's proposals to strengthen the fight against organized crimebut they largely turned their backs on his economic reforms to create employment by legalizing hourly contracts and attract investment by accepting international arbitrations in any jurisdiction.
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With this popular consultation, Noboa has measured his popular support after assuming the presidential position less than five months ago and already have the general elections of 2025 on the horizon, in which he has already expressed his intention to run for re-election.
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Now Noboa, 36 years old, the youngest president elected at the polls in the history of Ecuador, is reinforced in his crusade against organized crimefor which at the beginning of the year it declared an “internal armed conflict” against criminal gangs, which it began to consider as terrorist groups and non-state belligerent actors.
However, His electoral promise of generating jobs for young people is truncated by being left without the possibility of legalizing hourly contracts, as well as attracting foreign investments.after they have declined in recent years.
The results: one by one
The Yes vote was supported by 60% to 73% of valid votes. No prevailed in the questions about the restoration of hourly work (69%) and the recognition of international arbitration to resolve commercial disputes (65%), the head of the CNE, Diana Atamaint, informed the press.
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Previous polls and an exit poll had anticipated the majority victory of the Yes.
Noboa expressed that Ecuador now has “more tools to fight crime”.
Of the five proposals in the referendum and six in the popular consultation, a good part aimed to give a greater role to the Armed Forces in the fight against drug trafficking, which has turned the nation into a strategic center of its operations and unleashed a wave of violence. .
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Referendum
2. Allow extradition (Yes 65%). The Constitution determines that in no case will the extradition of Ecuadorian citizens be granted. The proposed constitutional amendment refers to crimes of terrorism and crimes against humanity, with the condition that the death penalty is not applied in the country of destination.
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3. Establish specialized judiciaries in constitutional matters (Yes 60%). The specialized judges, who if the measure is approved will be installed throughout the country, will rule exclusively in their own jurisdictions. In Ecuador there have been cases in which politicians and criminals have benefited from protection measures issued by magistrates from places that do not correspond to the processes.
5. Establish a fixed-term and hourly employment contract (No 69%). The Correa administration eliminated hourly work, considering that it made working conditions precarious. Noboa's initiative to promote employment is rejected by union and indigenous sectors.
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Referendum
7. Increase in penalties for 10 crimes such as terrorism, drug trafficking and hitmen (Yes 68%). Noboa, in the war against drug trafficking, declared about twenty gangs “terrorists.” That crime is now punishable by up to 13 years in prison.
9. That the public force can immediately use the seized weapons (Yes 65%).
10. Classify the crime of possession or carrying of weapons for the exclusive use of the military and police (Yes 65%).
eleven. Simplify the procedure of the Asset Forfeiture law so that the State becomes the owner of the seized assets of illicit or unjustified origin (Yes 62%).
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The reforms that go to the Assembly
The first is the one referring to The Armed Forces permanently participate alongside the Police in operations against organized crime. Extraditions to Ecuadorians required by the Justice of other countries will also be immediately applied, and a system of courts in constitutional matters will be established.
The same path will follow the toughening of penalties for crimes related to organized crime and the elimination of prison benefits for several of these figures, so that those convicted of these causes must serve their entire punishment in prison.
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In turn, the Assembly must address the creation of a crime of possession and carrying of weapons for the exclusive use of the Police and Armed Forces, as well as a mechanism for these state forces to be equipped with weapons seized from criminals and another to carry out expropriations. express of illicit goods.
Noboa and Correa, winners?
For its part, Former president Rafael Correa (2007-2017), who campaigned for 'No', considered it a victory for the people and a “clear defeat” for Noboa.for having lost the two questions of an economic nature, which the former president described as key.
The plebiscite had the participation of 72% of the more than 13.6 million Ecuadorians summoned to the polls, and was marked by the murder of the director of the El Rodeo prison, in the city of Portoviejo, and the beginning of a mutiny in the Quevedo prison, which left at least four injured.
The week before the vote was also marked by the murders of two mayors of towns where there are illegal mining activities, and a severe energy crisis that has forced the Government to make blackouts of up to eight hours a day to ration the supply of electricity. electricity.
INTERNATIONAL EDITORIAL
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