Explainer-What security measures will Ecuadoreans vote on this Sunday?

Explainer-What security measures will Ecuadoreans vote on this Sunday?

By Alexandra Valencia, Oliver Griffin

Ecuadoreans go to the polls this Sunday to vote in a referendum put forward by President Daniel Noboa, who has asked voters to approve measures to tackle spiraling violence.

While recent polls suggest most Ecuadoreans plan on voting in favor of the 11 questions, detractors say the referendum is unnecessary and will allow Noboa to push other areas of his agenda while citing the need to boost security.

WHAT DOES THE REFERENDUM INCLUDE?

The 11 questions mostly concern security. One asks voters to allow the military to patrol with police, while others would allow the extradition of accused criminals and increase jail time for crimes like terrorism and murder.

But not all relate to security. One measure would allow workers to be contracted by the hour, while another would recognize international arbitration in business disputes.

Five of the questions would modify Ecuador's constitution if approved by voters.

Detractors say the economic measures would lead to a decline in workers' rights and benefit international companies at the expense of locals.

The vote will be a measure of confidence in Noboa, pollsters and analysts say.

Recent polls found between half and two-thirds of voters plan on approving the questions.

Noboa has said approval of the measures is vital to tackling crime and shoring up security in Ecuador, where homicides and other crimes have soared.

WHY HAS SECURITY GOTTEN SO BAD IN ECUADOR?

Security in Ecuador has worsened since the coronavirus pandemic, which also battered the Andean nation's economy. The government and security experts blame the growing reach of cocaine trafficking gangs, which have destabilized swathes of South America.

The number of violent deaths in Ecuador rose to 7,994 in 2023, according to the police, up nearly two-thirds on the 2022 figure.

Last year, anti-corruption presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was assassinated in Quito while campaigning.

In January, the violence made global headlines when gunmen stormed a live television broadcast and scores of prison staff were taken hostage.

At least 22 local officials have been killed since last year, according to the Association of Ecuadorean Municipalities, while dozens more have sought police protection.

Inside Ecuador's prisons, gangs have taken advantage of the state's weak control to expand their power. Prison violence has become increasingly common, resulting in hundreds of deaths in incidents authorities have blamed on gang battles to control jails.

HOW HAS THE GOVERNMENT TACKLED THE PROBLEM?

Noboa, 36, took power in November and has been touting his $800 million "Phoenix Plan" to build a new intelligence unit, supply security forces with tactical weapons, build new high-security prisons and reinforce security at ports and airports.

Noboa declared 22 crime groups as terrorism organizations, paving the way for the military to conduct operations against them.

The operations have continued under a presidential decree after a 90-day state of emergency ended earlier this month.

According to the defense ministry, the joint security forces carried out 272,000 operations during the state of emergency, which started on Jan. 9.

In February, Noboa won a legislative VAT hike to fund security spending.