Ecuador's govt suffers defeat in referendum

Buenos Aires [Argentina], November 18: The liberal-conservative government of President Daniel Noboa on Sunday suffered a heavy defeat in a referendum it initiated, according to initial results from Ecuador's electoral authority.
All four initiatives were rejected in the referendum, the electoral office said with more than 75% of votes counted. The result is unlikely to change significantly, broadcaster Ecuavisa cited authority boss Diana Atamaint as saying.
Noboa conceded defeat. "These are the results. We consulted the Ecuadorian people and they have spoken," he wrote on social media platform X.
"We respect the will of the Ecuadorian people."
Ecuadorians voted against Noboa's proposal to establish foreign military bases in the South American country. Talks have already been held with the United States and Brazil.
Powerful drug gangs are expanding their activities in the once relatively safe country, and large quantities of cocaine are being smuggled via Pacific ports.
The US military is currently cracking down on suspected drug crime in the region.
In recent weeks, it has sunk around 20 boats in the Caribbean and Pacific that were allegedly smuggling drugs, killing dozens of people in the process.
The US military previously maintained a base in Manta on Ecuador's Pacific coast between 1999 and 2009.
Sunday's referendum also asked Ecuadorians to decide whether to abolish state funding of political parties and reduce the size of parliament from the current 151 seats to 73.
In addition to these changes, the government also wanted to convene a constituent assembly to pass a new constitution. The country's current constitution dates back to the time of left-wing former president Rafael Correa, who served until 2017.
Correa was later convicted of corruption and now lives in exile in Belgium.
Source: Qatar Tribune