Written by Alexandra Valencia
QUITO (Reuters) – Ecuador's government celebrated “overwhelming” support for its security proposals in a weekend referendum, but said it would need parliamentary agreement to implement some measures. a senior official said on Monday.
President Daniel Novoa won support in a referendum on Sunday for policies such as joint police and military patrols, extradition of wanted criminals and longer sentences for terrorism and murder.
The changes are aimed at combating a surge in violence that has made international headlines.
The government won nine of the 11 questions open to the public in the referendum, according to the National Electoral Commission, which counted about 65% of the ballots cast.
“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.
“We have been very clear to those who oppose the will of the Ecuadorian people for political reasons… saying, 'Members of Parliament, work with the government on security reform,'” Torres said. Ta. “The hope is that the dialogue will resume and that things will proceed in a mature manner.”
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.
Mr. Noboa, who took office in November, initially built a broad coalition in the legislature, but in particular ordered police to storm the Mexican embassy in Quito to arrest leftist former Vice President Jorge Glass on corruption charges. Since the order, relations with some political parties have deteriorated.
The incident drew international criticism and led to Mexico severing diplomatic relations with Ecuador.
Although two referendum measures failed, one that would allow workers to contract by the hour and one that would allow international arbitrage, Torres said the government remained focused on job creation.
(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Julia Simmes Cobb; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
