Moreno plans national referendum, sources say

President Lenin Moreno plans to call a “consulta popular,” or national referendum, that could make at least two major changes to the Ecuadorian constitution, sources say.

An aide says Moreno will call a referendum.

The first would reconsider a constitutional amendment that allows the indefinite re-election of some government officials, including the president. The second could redefine or abolish entirely the Consejo de Participación Ciudadana y Control Social (CPCCS), or Council of Citizen Participation and Social Control.

José Hernández, a former editor at the Quito newspaper El Comercio and currently a contributor to the conservative political blog 4Pelegatos, said that the referendum may include other issues as well. An advisor to Moreno, who asked not to be identified, confirmed that there are plans for a referendum but said dates and topics to be included remain to be determined.

A constitutional amendment allowing indefinite re-election of the president, supported by Correa, passed the National Assembly in 2016. The Council of Citizen Participation and Social Control was created by the 2008 constitution as a new branch of government, assuming responsibilities previously assigned to the National Assembly.

Before he became the Alianza País candidate for president, Moreno said in an interview that he was “not comfortable” with the indefinite re-election of the president or the role the CPCCS, which he said was a “thinly disguised” extension of executive authority.