Ecuador Rejects Foreign Bases and New Constitution in Referendum, Rebuking Noboa

Overview

• With most votes counted, about 61% opposed allowing foreign military bases and 62% rejected convening a constituent assembly for a new constitution.
• Voters also turned down ending public funding for parties (58%) and reducing the number of legislators (53%), according to the electoral authority.
• President Daniel Noboa conceded in a short statement, saying he respects the will of the people and pledging to continue the anti-crime fight with current tools.
• Nearly 14 million citizens were required to participate in the nationwide vote organized by the National Electoral Council.
• The ballot questions were pillars of Noboa’s security agenda aligned with closer U.S. cooperation, including exploring a return to sites such as Manta despite a 2008 ban, and the vote defied polling by Cedatos that had predicted strong support for “Yes.”