Written by Alexandra Valencia
QUITO (Reuters) – Former Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa His party, now in opposition, said on Monday it supported security measures that were widely supported by voters in a weekend referendum, but would oppose the president otherwise. Daniel Novoa In the Legislature.
Novoa initially had broad coalitions in the legislature, but Sunday's referendum won support for joint police-military patrols, extradition of wanted criminals and longer sentences for terrorism and murder, among other things.
The changes are aimed at combating a surge in violence that has made international headlines.
To implement the nine approved measures, the government will need to make at least five changes to existing laws. Lawmakers have 60 days to approve the amendment.
Correa told Reuters that the National Revolutionary Party supports security measures with the support of the people.
“If they are the result of a referendum, then it is a mandate from the people…so of course we have to support them,” Correa said in a video call.
Correa has lived in Belgium since leaving office in 2017 and was convicted in absentia of corruption charges.
Mr. Noboa, who took office in November, initially counted the People's Revolution as part of his legislative coalition, but in particular Mr. Noboa asked police to arrest Jorge Grasz, a former vice president of Correa's party, on corruption charges. The order to enter the embassy caused a rift in relations.
The incident drew international criticism and led to Mexico severing diplomatic relations with Ecuador.
“We will oppose immoral laws and criticize the government even more harshly, because what they did with the invasion of the Mexican embassy and the kidnapping of asylum seekers violates principles,” Correa said. Told.
Correa added that Ecuador has a “bad president and a bad government” and said some laws are unnecessary or aimed at unfairly benefiting only certain sectors.
According to the National Election Commission, Novoa's government won a landslide victory with support of 60% to 72% on nine of the 11 questions open to the public in the referendum.
“The results were as expected, overwhelming support for the government's two themes: security issues and the fight against corruption,” Government Undersecretary Esteban Torres said on local radio Monday morning.
“We have made this clear to those who oppose the will of the Ecuadorian people for political reasons by saying, 'Members of Parliament, cooperate with the government on security reform,'” Torres said. “The hope is that the dialogue will resume and that things will proceed in a mature manner.”
Although two referendum measures, one that would allow workers to contract by the hour and one that would allow international arbitrage, failed, Torres said the government remained focused on job creation.
(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Julia Simmes Cobb; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Sonali Paul)
