Ecuador’s Constitutional Referendum: A Cautionary Tale of Power Plays and Political Overreach

On November 16, Ecuadorans will vote on whether to convene a Constituent Assembly aimed at replacing the nation’s current Constitution, which dates back to the leftist era under Rafael Correa (2007-2017). This critical moment follows President Daniel Noboa’s controversial push to circumvent constitutional safeguards—raising serious questions about respect for rule of law and democratic principles. Is Ecuador Sacrificing Stability for Political Expediency? The Constitutional Court’s recent approval of Noboa’s referendum initiative came only after he amended procedural details regarding the election of assembly members and constituency size—alterations made under judicial pressure. But this approval masks the deeper problem: Noboa initially...