Ecuador - November 2025

On 16 November, Ecuadorians overwhelmingly rejected all four questions in a referendum and popular consultation promoted by President Daniel Noboa. The referendum questions were: i) eliminating the constitutional ban on foreign military bases (60.8 per cent against); ii) removing public financing for political parties and movements (58.3 per cent against); and iii) reducing the number of lawmakers in the National Assembly from 151 to 73 (53.7 per cent against). The popular consultation question regarded the convening of an elected constitutional assembly to draft a new constitution, subject to referendum approval (61.8 per cent against). According to the National Electoral Council (CNE), voter turnout exceeded 80.0 per cent, with mandatory voting in place. The referendum and popular consultation took place in the context of a ‘state of exception’ declared through presidential decree in several regions, due to what authorities described as ‘serious internal commotion’. International observers noted the peaceful conduct of the referendum but highlighted that President Noboa introduced the fourth question without prior review by the Constitutional Court, as required by law. The CNE later addressed the issue by consulting the Court, which subsequently issued a favorable opinion.

Sources:  Consejo Nacional Electoral, El Universo, Primicias, Infobae