The Constitutional Court (CC) made a decision on January 26 this year on the questions sent by President Daniel Noboa. The verdict enables the public consultation promised in the campaign and although the political field is already talking about winners and losers, the only thing certain is that there will be a democratic manifestation of the citizens.
Historically, at the local level, the public consultation was considered an approval or a rebuke of the population to the convenor, but the circumstances in Ecuador force us to start solving this issue with conscience, without the ego of any protagonist, because this behavior of the political immaturity of the past prevents the country from moving forward.
Questions about the approved referendum will return to the judge-rapporteur to apply another constitutional ‘filter’
There is still no date for the consultation, but 13,654,291 voters would be authorized to respond to it, according to a register update published by the National Electoral Council (CNE).
The opinion of the Constitutional Court was positive for 10 of the 20 questions that the regime sent, in two parts, although it subsequently withdrew the one that proposed the restart of casinos.
The questions that will be marked on the ballot are related to the reforms of the current laws related to the control of weapons and ammunition by the Armed Forces in the prison environment; classification of criminal offenses related to the possession of weapons; increasing penalties for crimes of terrorism and organized crime.
Nine questions by Daniela Noboa were not approved by the Constitutional Court: what remarks did the judges make about their content?
The court defined that four issues entail constitutional changes through amendments. They refer to the extradition of Ecuadorians; creating a judiciary specialized in constitutional issues; international arbitration; new modalities of fixed-term and hourly work.
The State Electoral Council is authorized to convene a consultation after receiving an executive decree with the President’s decision.
It is up to the politicians to behave maturely regarding the consultation, prioritizing the interest of the country; officials to ensure the proper development of the process, and citizens to analyze their decision without pressure of any kind and well informed. (OR)
Source: Eluniverso
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
