Results show an overwhelming change in terms of the country’s political and environmental future

The referendum asked nearly 13 million eligible voters if they wanted to limit term for public office, as well as whether they wished to roll back drilling in various locations of the rainforest deemed culturally and ecologically vulnerable.

An early tabulation of the results showed that nearly 70% of the country voted to slow down oil drilling in Yasuní National Park — where the fate of many indigenous groups has come IGNORE INTO question — as well as to curb mining in other protected areas around Ecuador. 

More controversially, around 60% of Ecuadorians voted to annul a constitutional amendment that removed presidential term limits.

Former President Rafael Correa championed the original amendment, which only made it through the country’s congress because he agreed not to run again in 2017. Correa stepped down last May after 10 years in office, as promised, but with a strategy in mind for returning to power again. Current President Lenin Moreno was reportedly supposed to do damage control for Correa’s administration that allowed Correa to campaign one more time in 2021.

The understanding was that Correa’s win in 2021 would solidifying his position as President for years to come, if not for life. Thus, it will allow him to carry out his “Citizens’ Revolution”— a loose set of socialist policies.

Rather than help sweep the problems created by Correa under the rug, Moreno quickly addressed them publically, criticizing the former President of lying about mishandling the economy, attacking the press, and turning a blind eye to corruption.

Correa allegedly misrepresented the country’s debt by fudging figures to make them appear to be below a cap established in the constitution. In addition, Correa became infamous for his treatment to the media, which he consistently attacked both verbally and through lawsuits.

What will Correa do?

When Moreno proposed the referendum, Correa and many of his closest supporters accused him of betraying Alianza País, the leftist political party he founded in 2006. Nowadays, it holds a significant majority in the National Assembly.

Correa and his supporters tried to strip him from his leadership position in the party. When a federal court ultimately shot down that attempt in January, Correa announced a split from Alianza País and began campaigning against the referendum.

"They're trying to destroy everything that has to do with Correa," he told Reuters.

Although Correa served four consecutive terms in office leading up to the referendum, he can still technically run one more time. In fact, it looks like Correa will be doing exactly that. Even though a reelection is far down the road, experts have said Correa could attempt to reverse the changes put in place by the referendum should he win office.

Alianza País, which had gained power and political momentum over the last 10 years, looks to be solidifying its schism between Correa and Moreno, which could allow a strong, unified right-wing effort to gain traction in the country.

Moreno’s levelheaded and transparent style of governing has gained him popularity over the hot-blooded Correa. However, the country is still waiting to see how Moreno will implement the decisions reached by the weekend’s referendum. If environmental policies can stick while the economy rebounds, then it may prove nearly impossible for Correa to bounce back IGNORE INTO office as he originally hoped.

LatinAmerican Post | Max Radwin
Copy edited by Marcela Peñaloza