Ecuadorian President Noboa Unveils Seven-Question Referendum
President Daniel Noboa (C). X/ @CharlaBuben2116
August 5, 2025 Hour: 2:07 pm
Citizen Revolution’s leader Rafael Correa urged voters to reject the referendum.
On Tuesday, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa unveiled seven questions for a popular consultation and referendum expected to take place by the end of the year.
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The first question seeks to eliminate the constitutional ban on establishing foreign military bases or foreign military facilities on national territory, as well as the ban on ceding national military bases to foreign armed forces. The National Assembly had previously amended a constitutional article to allow for such a change.
The second question proposes eliminating the obligation of the state to allocate funding from the general budget to political organizations, which would partially reform the Constitution.
The third question concerns the potential elimination of the Citizen Participation and Social Control Council (CPCCS), the institution currently responsible for appointing key authorities such as the attorney general and the state comptroller. Its duties and powers would be transferred to the National Assembly, the Ombudsman’s Office, and the Office of the Comptroller General.
The fourth question would ask the public whether they agree with modifying the electoral system to reduce the current number of lawmakers, which now stands at 151.
The fifth question proposes allowing hourly employment contracts in tourism-related activities.
The sixth question seeks to determine whether the public agrees that Constitutional Court judges should be subject to political trials, just like other authorities.
Finally, the seventh question addresses the possibility of allowing gambling halls and casinos in five-star hotels, which would pay the state a tax ranging from 20% to 25% of their revenues.
After the questions were made public, former President Rafael Correa criticized Noboa’s initiative and urged voters to reject the referendum. He posted a lengthy message on social media platform X, stating:
“1. NO. Dignity also sustains a nation, and it’s clear that military bases are not the solution. Colombia has seven. We were better off after the Manta base closed, but the right is an expert at destroying and then selling us their “solutions.”
2. NO. What they want is to turn political parties into banana plantations or bank branches. Yes, we must be much stricter, especially in campaign financing.
3. NO. This is a return to the past: Congress appointing oversight authorities—pure backroom deals! The problem is that [former President] Moreno and [former official] Trujillo destroyed the CPCCS, whose members used to be selected through merit-based competitions. The fever isn’t in the sheets: there can be no virtuous institutions without virtuous individuals. As long as the most deceitful person is not the most punished, but the most applauded, no institution will work.
4. We need to review the annex, but coming from Noboa, there’s likely a trick. The current representation in the Assembly is fairly reasonable.
5. We need to review the annex, but hourly contracts were disguised exploitation. One of the biggest exploiters was the Noboa Corporation on its banana plantations.
6. YES. Making the Constitutional Court untouchable is something for more mature democracies. Since it was illegally replaced during the Trujillo era, this body has gone along with anything. It’s the lesser evil, though I repeat: there are no virtuous institutions without virtuous individuals.
7. NO. This was one of the best decisions made. Many believe gambling addiction—ludopathy—is worse than alcoholism or drug addiction. Above all, it’s the best way to launder money. It would be disastrous combined with dollarization, which facilitates laundering.”
None of this will solve the crisis the country is facing, and measures like questions 2 and 7 “will certainly make it worse,” Correa added.
“The national tragedy is not about laws or institutions, but about bad governments. So this referendum can also be an opportunity to deliver a resounding NO to an inept and corrupt government. We are being governed by criminals,” the Citizen Revolution leader concluded.
teleSUR/ JF
Sources: EFE – RC