Noboa admits shock of losing referendum, says he will pursue constitutional changes through the Assembly

In interviews Wednesday and Thursday, President Daniel Noboa said he was “stunned” by the defeat of four referendum questions November 16. “No, we did not expect this and it came as a jolt for all of us in my office, among my ministers and in the National Assembly,” he said.

President Daniel Noboa

Noboa suggested there was late shift in public opinion “for reasons unknown” that led to the defeat. “Based on our information, based on the polls, we thought at least three of the questions would pass but obviously we were wrong.”

In an interview with journalist and former Quito Mayor Jorge Yunda, the president said his government would hold talks with “various political and social sectors in the country” in an effort to build consensus.

He ruled out, however, negotiation with the Citizens Revolution movement. “I will not negotiate with political elements involved with the mafia, by which I mean Correismo,” he said. “They will continue trying to deceive people because they respond to the interests of international narco-terrorists.”

Noboa said the first changes he made following the referendum defeat were to his ministerial cabinet. “There were people at this level who were not doing their jobs and they have been replaced,” he said. “There has was a critical lack of coordination and communication among the ministers during the campaign and this, I believe, was part of our failure in the election.”

Despite defeat of the question to rewrite the constitution, Noboa said he would pursue constitutional changes through the National Assembly. “My main interest is amending the Comprehensive Criminal Code to protect the public from criminals and criminal suspects and to reduce the options judges currently have to allow them to go free,” he said, claiming the practice is one reason for the high murder rate in the country’s coastal region.

“We will continue with our plan to make changes to the constitution through the Assembly to stop the courts from being the enemy of the people,” he added.

Asked by Yunda whether social issues, especially a failing health care system and underfunded schools, played a part in the referendum defeat, Noboa agreed it “probably played a role.” He said his 2026 budget will increase social spending but said his primary focus remains confronting organized drug crime as well as illegal mining, which he described as a “growing threat.”

Noboa complained that the media has “under-reported the good news” of an improving economy. “Ecuador has enjoyed one of the highest growths of GDP, 4.6%, over the past year and we have also reduced the rate of unemployment,” he said. “Just as important, during this government, the country’s economic risk has dropped from 1,918 points to 571, which is important for foreign investors and international lenders.”

Noboa told Yunda that “my work is just beginning,” pointing out that he has three-and-a-half years remaining in his presidential term.