Constitutional Court rejects four of Noboa’s consultation questions, clears two for a public vote

The Constitutional Court on Thursday rejected three of five popular consultation questions President Daniel Noboa wants to include in a November referendum. The approved questions would allow hourly employment in the tourism sector and the reduction in the number of National Assembly members. It rejected questions that would allow Constitutional Court judges to be impeached, that would eliminate the Council for Citizen Participation and Social Control, that would legalize casino gambling, and would legalize chemical castration of convicted rapists.

The Constitutional Court rejected President Daniel Noboa’s consultation question to allow a return of casino gambling in Ecuador, claiming its wording was not clear.

The court said hourly employment in the tourism industry would be permitted due to the seasonal and short-term contractual nature of the industry.

It also approved the question to reduce the size of the National Assembly as long as proportional representation is maintained.

In rejecting elimination of the Cpccs, the court said that the “suppression of a constitutional entity” requires the action of a constituent constitutional assembly.

In the case of allowing impeachment of constitutional court judges, the court rejected the question because it violated “fundamental principles of the constitution” for the separation of state powers.

The court rejected the question of restoring casinos at five-star hotels based on “poor and inadequate” wording. “The question is poorly prepared in its explanation to voters,” the judges said.