Just as a remainder, in the middle of the State of Emergency against the government-declared terrorist narco-criminal organizations (which of one of its infamous highlights was the takeover of a national TV station in January). The CNE by suggestion of President Noboa called a Referendum and Popular Consultation to held in April 21, 13.6 million of ecuatorians are called to vote, the questions are all related to the security problem:
Referendum Questions
Partial Reform (Opinion 7-22 RC Constitutional Court - question processed by the National Assembly, initiative of Lasso' prior government to reform Article 158 of the Constitution-)
A) Do you agree with allowing the complementary support of the Armed Forces in the functions of the National Police to combat organized crime, partially reforming the Constitution in accordance with the provisions of Annex 1?
(Introductory sentence: Currently, the Armed Forces cannot support the National Police in the internal protection and maintenance of public order, unless there is a declaration of a state of emergency)
Constitutional Amendment (Executive Decree No. 163)
1) Do you agree with allowing the extradition of Ecuadorians, with the conditions, requirements, restrictions and impediments established in the Constitution, international instruments and in the Law, amending the Constitution and reforming the laws, in accordance with Annex 1?
2) Do you agree with the establishment of specialized judiciaries in constitutional matters, both in first and second instance, for the knowledge of the jurisdictional guarantees that correspond to them, amending the Constitution and reforming the Organic Law of Jurisdictional Guarantees and Constitutional Control , according to Annex 2?
3) Do you agree that the Ecuadorian State recognizes international arbitration as a method to resolve investment, contractual or commercial disputes?
4) Do you agree with amending the Constitution of the Republic and reforming the Labor Code for the fixed-term and hourly employment contract, when it is concluded for the first time between the same employer and worker, without affecting the acquired rights of workers, in accordance with Annex 4?
Popular Consultation Questions (Executive Decree No. 162)
1) Do you agree that the Armed Forces carry out control of weapons, ammunition, explosives and accessories, permanently, on the routes, paths, roads and corridors authorized for entry to social rehabilitation centers?
2) Do you agree with increasing the penalties for the crimes of (I) terrorism and its financing, (II) illicit production and trafficking of scheduled substances subject to control, (III) organized crime, (IV) murder, (V) hitmen, (VI) human trafficking, (VII) kidnapping for ransom, (VIII) arms trafficking, (IX) money laundering and (X) illicit activity of mining resources, reforming the Comprehensive Organic Penal Code in accordance with the Annex of the question?
3) Do you agree that people deprived of liberty serve their entire sentence within the social rehabilitation center for the crimes detailed in the Annex to the question, reforming the Comprehensive Organic Penal Code as stated in the aforementioned Annex? ?
4) Do you agree with criminalizing the crime of possession or carrying of weapons, ammunition or components that are for the exclusive use of the Armed Forces or the National Police, without affecting firearms permitted for civilian use, reforming the Comprehensive Organic Penal Code according to the Annex to the question?
5) Do you agree that weapons, their parts or pieces, explosives, ammunition or accessories that were instruments or material objects of a crime, can be destined for the immediate use of the National Police or the Armed Forces, reforming the Organic Code Comprehensive Criminal Code according to the Annex to the question?
6) Do you agree that the State proceeds to be the holder (owner) of assets of illicit or unjustified origin, simplifying the procedure of the Organic Law of Asset Forfeiture, according to the Annex to the question?
Supporting YES in all the questions (government position): Construye, CREO, PID (part of ADN)
Supporting NO in all or some questions: Pachakutik (NO at all), UP (questions 4 and 5), PSE (question 5)
Supporting YES in some and NO in others: AMIGO (NO at question 4 and 5, YES in the others)
With more than 100 days in office, Noboa accomplished most of his agenda thanks to the support in Parliament by correísmo and PSC, resumed in five major initiatives:
1. A first economic efficiency project, in that, incentives were created for companies that provide jobs to young people and the free zone regime was modified.
2. The Organic Law of Energy Competitiveness , by which the energy efficiency fund was created to finance different initiatives, such as energy saving campaigns, energy management systems, energy, projects to replace equipment, machinery and appliances.
3. The Organic Law to Confront the Internal Armed Conflict, the Social and Economic Crisis. In it, the increase in the value added tax (VAT) from 12% to 15% was proposed to cover the cost of the internal armed conflict that the president declared in the midst of a state of emergency, three days before, due to the resurgence of violence. criminal in the country. The VAT was not approved at the parliamentary debate, but the creation of special contributions to the profits of banks and companies was. However, with a partial veto, Noboa insisted on increasing one point of that tax permanently and up to two more if the fiscal fund required it. The VAT will start at 15% from April 1, because the country needs resources to cover the expenses of the armed conflict, but also the arrears with suppliers, local governments and aid for the sectors flooded by the winter rains.
4. The Constitution allows the president to send several urgent bills when there are states of exception, which is why Noboa delivered the Law for the Savings and Monetization of Economic Resources for the Financing of the Fight against Corruption. This reforms are made to the law on asset forfeiture and public procurement.
5. The Urgent Economic Law for the Strengthening of Tourist Activities and the Promotion of Employment, just approved to process at parliament. This proposes a series of benefits and tax incentives for tour operators and airlines.
Noboa assured that 50,000 jobs have already been generated for young people between 18 and 29 years old as a result of the economic efficiency law. According to a survey by the Cedatos company, carried out between February 19 and 22, 2024, before Noboa's decision to set the VAT at 15% became known, 81.4% approved of President Noboa's management, 16.1% expressed disapproval and 2.5% abstained from giving an opinion. (all this part, source from [url:https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/politica/daniel-noboa-cien-dias-en-el-poder-leyes-asamblea-nacional-nota/]EL UNIVERSO[/url])
Also the date of the 2025 general election is also known, First round of the Presidential election and Parliamentary elections wil be in February 9, 2025. Noboa has been vocal to want reelection and the upcoming referendum maybe the kickstarter of his campaign.
