Ecuadorians reject proposed constitutional reforms
Voters blocked foreign base plan and broader security measures in a clear rebuke to Noboa
Ecuadorians rejected a package of proposed constitutional changes in a national referendum, delivering a clear rebuke to President Daniel Noboa and blocking a cornerstone of his security strategy. With vote counts nearing completion, roughly two-thirds of voters opposed a measure that would have lifted the 2008 ban on foreign military bases, while over 61% rejected a proposal to convene an assembly to rewrite the constitution. Two additional measures—to reduce the size of the national legislature and to end public funding for political organizations—were also poised to fail by wide margins.
The defeated base provision was framed by Noboa as essential to deepen international cooperation against drug trafficking and organized crime, with his administration insisting any foreign forces would only train and support Ecuadorian troops rather than operate independently. Opponents and many voters, however, expressed longstanding concerns over national sovereignty and foreign influence, recalling past foreign military presence. The outcome was celebrated by demonstrators in the capital, where opposition figure Luisa Gonzalez declared the vote a moment of national dignity and a turning point toward a future of security and peace without fear or hatred.
Once considered one of the safer countries in the region, Ecuador has in recent years become an important transit hub for drug trafficking along the Pacific, triggering a severe security crisis and harming an already fragile economy. Analysts interpret the referendum results as a sign of public mistrust toward government proposals that expand security powers and institutional overhaul, and as a mandate for alternative approaches to tackle escalating violence.
Noboa acknowledged the voters’ decision on social media and pledged to continue efforts to improve the country, but his political standing has been weakened. The defeat leaves the constitutional prohibition on foreign bases intact and signals that any future initiatives seeking foreign military support will confront intense public scrutiny and political obstacles.
