Ecuadorians exercising their right to vote abroad in Madrid, Spain, during a previous election. Photo: Rodrigo Jiménez/EFE/file photo.
More than 13.7 million Ecuadorians will go to the polls this Sunday, February 9, to elect the president and vice president of the South American country, as well as 51 assembly members and five representatives for Parliament.
The electoral process has been marked by controversy surrounding the incumbent Daniel Noboa, who decided to remain in office during the campaign despite the fact that the electoral law stipulates that he must take leave from the beginning of the contest, on January 5, until February 6.
Noboa did temporarily delegate his functions at times to the designated vice president Cynthia Gellibert, and not to the constitutionally mandated VerĂłnica Abad, who was elected in the 2023 presidential elections as the Ecuadorian vice president.
The case was brought before the Constitutional Court, which on January 23 said it had made a decision on the matter, although it has not yet announced its decision.
The delay by the Constitutional Court has ignited a series of criticisms among political actors and public opinion: it is believed that the court is timing its announcement based on the electoral schedule.
If the court’s findings are issued on Thursday, one day before the end of the campaign, any possible infraction by Noboa would be in the hands of the CNE or the Electoral Contentious Court, limiting the immediate actions that can be taken.
On the other hand, the general secretary of the Citizen Revolution Movement, AndrĂ©s Arauz, warned via social media: “we have received information about very serious false flag operations and attacks with artificial intelligence that will occur this last week.”
Given this situation, Arauz requested “a preventive audit of IT and processes from international observers from the Organization of American States (OAS), the European Union (EU), COPPPAL and others to ensure the scanning, transmission, and above all, typing of minutes.”
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He also said that his political movement has been the target of attacks due to the candidacy of Luisa González, one of the favorites among the 16 presidential candidates.
As part of the CNE restrictions, a Prohibition Law is in force, which will govern the country before and during the election day. Thus, the sale, distribution, and consumption of alcoholic beverages will not be permitted, in accordance with Article 123 of the Code of Democracy.
Citizens who violate this measure are exposed to a fine equivalent to 50% of the monthly basic wage (SBU), i.e., approximately US $236.
(Telesur)
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SL
