The president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, has assured that if he wins the second round of the presidential elections on April 13, he will convene a constituent assembly to reform the country’s constitution. The goal, as he puts it, is to “give power and tranquility again to the citizen who does things well” by addressing the deep reforms needed to correct certain injustices in the current Magna Carta. According to Noboa, the Constitution, which has been in place since 2008, “has many mistakes that totally break the possibility of giving security and tranquility to people.”
In a recent interview with Radio Candela, Noboa pointed out that the current Constitution often favors the rights of criminals over those of the general population. He illustrated this by noting that “if you’re imprisoned, you’re a vulnerable population – moreover, you can enter an emergency room before a healthy 25-year-old girl.” This, he believes, is a clear indication that the system needs overhaul. Furthermore, Noboa highlighted a recent surge in violence perpetrated by criminal groups, emphasizing the need for comprehensive reform.
Noboa, who is seeking re-election, described the current situation as “a war” against these criminal groups, which have significantly increased their operations in recent weeks. He maintained that it’s time for the state to launch a “counteroffensive” against these groups. His opponent in the upcoming election, Luisa González, has faced criticism for her party’s alleged links to the wave of violence that has shaken Ecuador for over a year.
As part of his strategy to combat organized crime, Noboa announced plans to establish two provisional military bases in the province of El Oro, on the border with Peru. This region has been particularly affected by the rise in crime. “We are living a war,” Noboa reiterated, hinting at connections between political groups and organized crime. “Now it’s up to us to make a counteroffensive,” he said, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
The proposed military bases are to be set up in the municipality of Pasaje and the town of Puerto Bolívar, a key location due to its port infrastructure, which makes it vulnerable to criminal activities. Noboa explained that the plan involves “mobilizing resources and personnel to the areas where there is the greatest need and where there is more dispute between these narcoterrorist groups.” Just days ago, he reopened the debate on allowing foreign forces into the country to collaborate in the fight against organized crime, a move that reflects the complexity and severity of the challenge Ecuador is facing.
