On September 19, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced the call for a popular referendum to establish a Constituent Assembly. The decision was made without prior approval from the National Assembly or the Constitutional Court, both bodies provided for in the 2008 Constitution.
Noboa justified the measure by stating that "it is the people who must decide if they want a new Constitution," arguing that existing institutions have hindered his reforms. According to the president, the referendum would be a direct mechanism for legitimizing progress toward political and structural changes.
The announcement has sparked controversy in the political and legal spheres. Various actors have pointed out that the procedure violates the current constitutional order, since the Constitution establishes that convening a Constituent Assembly requires the approval of at least two-thirds of the National Assembly or a favorable opinion from the Constitutional Court.
The initiative comes amid tensions between the executive branch and other branches of government. While the government maintains that the call is in response to a citizen mandate, opposition groups and legal experts warn that the move could trigger an institutional crisis in the country.