Ecuador - April 2024
Ecuador holds constitutional referendum and plebiscite focused on security
On 21 April, through a single ballot, citizens participated in both a binding referendum on constitutional amendments and a consultative plebiscite on other questions. Citizens voted ‘Yes’ to referendum questions related to amending the constitution to permit armed forces to support the national police (by 72 per cent), the extradition of Ecuadorean nationals subject to certain conditions (by around 65 per cent), and the establishment of judiciaries specialized in constitutional issues (by 60.5 per cent). Conversely, they rejected the use of international arbitration in investment disputes, as well as a proposal to reform the constitution and Labour Code to include hourly and fixed-term work contracts.
Regarding the plebiscite questions, a majority of voters agreed to the armed forces carrying out checks in detention centres, increasing prison terms for certain crimes, among other security-related issues.
These plebiscite questions will move on to the National Assembly for consideration. Despite mandatory voting, 28 per cent of eligible voters abstained.
Sources: El Pais, The New York Times, CNN
Police carry out raid in Mexican Embassy in Quito
Ecuador’s national police carried out a raid on the Mexican embassy in Quito on 5 April, escalating an ongoing diplomatic dispute. Ecuador’s military and police agents breached the diplomatic mission to detain Jorge Glas, a former vice president who had taken refuge in the embassy since December, after being convicted of corruption-related crimes. Mexico ended diplomatic relations with Ecuador and, along with other countries, has protested a transgression of the inviolability of its diplomatic mission, in contravention of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Ecuador argues that Mexico’s attempts to grant political asylum to a person convicted of ordinary and not political crimes was a breach of international law. Mexico has filed an application against Ecuador before the International Court of Justice, which heard arguments on its request for provisional measures in late April and early May.
Rule of Law
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