.essb_links.essb_size_s .essb_link_svg_icon svg{height:16px;width:auto}.essb_links.essb_size_s .essb_icon{width:30px !important;height:30px !important}.essb_links.essb_size_s .essb_icon:before{font-size:16px !important;top:7px !important;left:7px !important}.essb_links.essb_size_s li a .essb_network_name{font-size:12px !important;font-weight:400 !important;line-height:12px !important}.essb_links.essb_size_s .essb_totalcount_item .essb_t_l_big,.essb_links.essb_size_s .essb_totalcount_item .essb_t_r_big{font-size:16px !important;line-height:16px !important}.essb_links.essb_size_s .essb_totalcount_item .essb_t_l_big .essb_t_nb_after,.essb_links.essb_size_s .essb_totalcount_item .essb_t_r_big .essb_t_nb_after{font-size:9px !important;line-height:9px !important;margin-top:1px !important}.essb_links.essb_size_s .essb_totalcount_item .essb_t_l_big.essb_total_icon:before,.essb_links.essb_size_s .essb_totalcount_item .essb_t_r_big.essb_total_icon:before{font-size:16px !important;line-height:26px !important}

Ecuador has dealt a severe political blow to President Daniel Noboa: in the referendum held this Sunday, the population clearly rejected several of his most ambitious proposals, including the establishment of foreign military bases, a new Constitution, the elimination of public funding for political parties, and the reduction of the number of legislators.

According to the National Electoral Council, around 60.56% of voters said “No” to allowing foreign military bases.

The president’s initiative sought to partially reform the Constitution: the current Article 5 prohibits foreign forces from establishing military installations in Ecuadorian territory, but Noboa proposed removing that ban to open the door to international collaborations, especially with the United States, in the fight against organized crime.

The referendum also included a question on convening a Constituent Assembly to draft a new Constitution, which was similarly rejected by a majority (around 61.59% according to partial results). In addition, citizens said “No” to his proposal to eliminate state funding for political parties and to reduce the number of legislators.

This electoral setback is significant: it marks the defeat of Noboa’s most controversial reforms, presented as pillars of his strategy to strengthen the State against violence and drug trafficking.

The president had defended these measures as necessary to equip the country with stronger tools against transnational criminal networks, but voters preferred to maintain the current Constitution and reject what they considered an overly deep institutional leap.

The context is not trivial: Ecuador is experiencing a very serious security crisis. According to data from the Ecuadorian Observatory of Organized Crime, 4,619 homicides were recorded in the first half of the year, an alarming level for the country.

It was precisely these levels of violence that motivated Noboa to push for a referendum: his argument was that a more flexible constitutional framework would allow more effective use of international military cooperation to combat crime.

The reform to allow bases in strategic locations such as Manta or Santa Elena had been previously approved in the National Assembly (82 votes in favor) and then validated by the Constitutional Court, which paved the way for the referendum.

Noboa, for his part, had linked the presence of foreign military forces with the need to strengthen the country’s operational capacity against cartels and drug trafficking networks.

But citizens have opted for an institutional brake. With this result, they send a clear message: they are not willing to delegate absolute power or sacrifice national sovereignty under the banner of fighting crime.

The loss represents not only a political setback but also a limit to Noboa’s hardline leadership. His bet on radical constitutional reforms has been halted abruptly.

This outcome also reveals an implicit critique of attempts to concentrate power under the pretext of emergency: it is not enough to present insecurity as justification for amending the Constitution. Citizens demand respect for the rule of law, traditional institutions, and a legitimate democratic process.

From a conservative perspective, the failure of Noboa’s referendum shows that security cannot be used as a pretext to weaken institutional barriers or impose a personalist agenda.

The left — those who seek to reinvent the rules of the State whenever it suits them — has received a lesson: the defense of legitimate order, family, institutional authority, and traditional values cannot be abandoned for a radical change discourse.

Ecuadorians have chosen to preserve their current Constitution and reject accelerated transformation under promises of a hardline approach. Ultimately, true sovereignty resides in the consent of the people, not in executive decrees.

Ecuador is facing an unprecedented security crisis, with the highest homicide rate in Hispanic America. Violence has penetrated all levels of society, threatening the stability of families and the social fabric.

Streets have become dangerous, citizens live in fear, and State authority is questioned due to the inability to contain criminal gangs and drug trafficking. This situation requires firm and decisive measures, but always within the framework of respect for the law and institutional order.

The rejection of the referendum confirms that Ecuadorian society is not willing to sacrifice sovereignty or accept radical constitutional changes in the name of urgency or populism. Citizens demand that the fight against crime be carried out effectively, but respecting legitimate authority, fundamental rights, and traditional values.

This result demonstrates that true security is built on the defense of family, respect for institutions, and the preservation of social order, and that the left cannot impose its accelerated reform agenda without the consent of the population.

READ MORE:

About The Author Rafa Gómez-Santos Martín

Rafael Santos is a Portuguese writer and political analyst dedicated to educating Hispanics on traditional values and the importance of protecting children and families. With years of experience in media and public discourse, he has been a strong advocate for cultural preservation and moral principles in an ever-changing world. Passionate about culture, sports, and current affairs, Rafael brings insightful analysis to political and social debates, striving to empower the Hispanic community with knowledge and a deeper understanding of the issues that shape their lives.