LATIN AMERICA
Defeat of Noboa dictatorship in referendum shows crisis in the regime
After more than 500 days ruling under a state of siege, the Noboa government is defeated in a popular referendum
After more than 500 days governing Ecuador under a state of siege, President Daniel Noboa suffered a major defeat with the popular rejection in the November 16, 2025 referendum, which reaffirmed the “no” vote on all four questions submitted to the popular consultation.
In the referendum, the most harshly rejected proposals were to allow the installation of foreign military bases on Ecuadorian territory (60.64% against) and to convene a Constituent Assembly to reform the Constitution (61.65% against). Also defeated were the proposals to eliminate public funding for political parties (58% against) and to reduce the number of members of the National Assembly (53.47% against).
The result shows the widespread discontent of the population with the government’s measures, which undermine national sovereignty and the rights that have been won. The Noboa government, which has maintained a state of siege for more than 500 days, controlling the democratic rights of the population under the pretext of fighting violence and organized crime, finds itself more isolated from the population. It is also a demonstration that their repressive actions express a dictatorship, an anti-popular policy. It is, after all, a policy to stifle opponents and maintain its alliance with foreign interests, especially the United States, which is interested in installing military bases in the country.
For Ecuador’s largest indigenous organization, Conaie, the victory of the “no” vote is a demonstration that the people are united against abuses and threats to their fundamental rights and to the country, that they reject turning a blind eye to attempts to surrender sovereignty to foreign powers and to the destruction of indigenous and environmental rights.
In this sense, the referendum expresses a crisis for the imperialist-backed regime which, having lost popular support, must resort to even harsher repression in order to preserve the regime.
