Ecuadorians Reject Noboa’s Referendum on Foreign Bases and New Constitution

Overview

• Official counts show roughly 60% to 62% voted against allowing foreign military bases and against convening a new Constituent Assembly, with majorities also rejecting an end to public party funding and a smaller legislature.
• President Daniel Noboa accepted the result and said he respects the will of the Ecuadorian people, calling the outcome a mandate he will honor.
• The defeat preserves the 2008 constitutional ban on foreign bases and curtails plans to rewrite the charter, marking a significant political setback for the administration.
• The vote followed Noboa’s push to deepen security cooperation with the United States, including visits to former U.S. facilities in Manta and Salinas, where Washington previously operated anti-drug flights until 2009.
• Pre‑vote polling had pointed to a government win, yet the surprise reversal came as the country faces soaring violence, and Noboa even announced the arrest in Spain of alleged gang leader Wilmer “Pipo” Chavarría as voting began.