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Ecuador - February 2023

Municipal elections and referendum deliver unfavourable results to Guillermo Lasso’s government

Municipal elections and a referendum held on 5 February delivered important wins for the opposition, and unfavourable results for President Guillermo Lasso’s government. Candidates from former president Rafael Correa’s left leaning party (Revolución Ciudadana) were elected as mayors in Ecuador’s two main cities, Quito and Guayaquil. Pursuant to adopted reforms that seek to achieve gender parity by 2025, 46.9 per cent of candidacies for this election were held by women. In Guayaquil, right-wing mayors had governed for 31 years. Analysts consider the left’s gains in the countries as indicative of the diminished popularity of Lasso’s government. They have also characterized the results of the referendum that took place on the same date as a blow to Lasso’s efforts to gain backing for his security policy and the war on drugs. 

The referendum included questions on the possibility of extraditing Ecuadorian nationals for transnational organized crime, reducing the number of the legislature’s members among other varied reforms. All possible reforms in the government-backed referendum were rejected by voters. 

Participation reached 80.74 per cent (voting is mandatory for most citizens). The elections stood out for the uncharacteristic level of violence; five candidates were killed and at least 12 were targeted by violent attacks. 

Sources: La Hora, Organization of American States, Telesur,  El Pais

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