According to initial results, the liberal-conservative government of President Daniel Noboa suffered a heavy defeat in a referendum it initiated. All four initiatives were rejected in the referendum on Sunday, as the electoral office announced after counting more than 75 percent of the votes. The result is unlikely to change significantly, said the president of the electoral authority, Diana Atamaint, according to the TV station Ecuavisa.
Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa.Image: keystone
Accordingly, the Ecuadorians rejected the government’s desired approval of foreign military bases in the South American country, the abolition of state financing of parties, the reduction of the size of the parliament and the convening of a constituent assembly.
Government wants to allow foreign military bases
In view of a massive security crisis, the government wanted the referendum to approve the establishment of foreign military bases in the South American country. Discussions have already been held with the USA and Brazil. The US military had a base in Manta on the Pacific coast between 1999 and 2009.
President Noboa admits defeat
In the referendum, the Ecuadorians should also approve an end to state financing of parties and the reduction in the size of parliament from the current 151 seats to 73 mandates in the future. The government also wanted to convene a constituent assembly to pass a new basic law. According to the preliminary results, all initiatives were rejected.
President Daniel Noboa admitted defeat. «These are the results. We consulted the Ecuadorian people and they spoke,” he wrote on Platform X. “We respect the will of the Ecuadorian people.” (dab/sda/dpa)