1997 Ecuadorian referendum
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A fourteen-part referendum was held in
threshold in two consecutive elections should be deregistered, whether the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) should reflect the political makeup of the National Congress, whether the National Congress should appoint managers of state-owned companies with a two-thirds majority, reforms to the justice system, allowing the Supreme Court to appoint judicial authority member, whether elected officials who commit a criminal offence should be removed from office, and whether the National Assembly should implement the 13 proposals.[2] All eleven proposals were approved by voters.[2]
After all yes/no questions were approved,[2] a Constitutional Assembly was subsequently elected in 1997 and produced a new constitution which entered into force on 10 August 1998.[3]
Background
On 6 February 1997 the Constitutional Assembly had removed President Bucaram from office due to "mental retardation". However, it had not been done by a majority of 67 of the 100 members as proscribed by the constitution. On 8 April interim President Alarcón issued decree 201, calling a referendum on 14 questions, as allowed by article 58 of the constitution.[3]
Results
Yes/no questions
Issue | For | Against | Invalid/ blank |
Total | Registered voters |
Turnout | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Votes | % | |||||
Removal of President Abdalá Bucaram from office | 2,488,778 | 75.76 | 796,154 | 24.24 | 798,174 | 4,083,106 | 6,890,832 | 59.25 |
Appointment of Fabián Alarcón Rivera as interim President | 2,241,299 | 68.37 | 1,036,722 | 31.63 | 802,602 | 4,080,623 | 59.20 | |
Election of a Constitutional Assembly | 1,903,962 | 64.58 | 1,044,188 | 35.42 | 1,130,671 | 4,078,821 | 59.19 | |
Spending limits on election campaigns | 1,999,776 | 69.87 | 862,377 | 30.13 | 1,218,078 | 4,080,231 | 59.21 | |
Deregister parties failing to cross the 5% threshold twice in a row | 1,892,180 | 68.45 | 872,330 | 31.55 | 1,314,947 | 4,079,457 | 59.20 | |
TSE composition to reflect party strength | 1,592,945 | 58.67 | 1,122,234 | 41.33 | 1,361,927 | 4,077,106 | 59.17 | |
National Assembly to appoint heads of state-owned companies | 1,373,957 | 50.75 | 1,333,339 | 49.25 | 1,369,447 | 4,076,743 | 59.16 | |
Judicial reforms | 1,651,162 | 60.73 | 1,067,724 | 39.27 | 1,356,506 | 4,075,392 | 59.14 | |
Supreme Court to elect judicial authorities | 1,512,406 | 55.97 | 1,189,976 | 44.03 | 1,372,931 | 4,075,313 | 59.14 | |
Sacking of elected officials who commit criminal offences | 1,615,292 | 60.25 | 1,065,850 | 39.75 | 1,393,477 | 4,074,619 | 59.13 | |
Allowing electoral list modification | 1,250,663 | 51.65 | 1,170,865 | 48.35 | 1,649,311 | 4,070,839 | 59.08 | |
National Assembly to pass reforms within 60 days | 1,790,383 | 66.88 | 886,459 | 33.12 | 1,396,259 | 4,073,101 | 59.11 | |
Source: Direct Democracy |
Method of election of a Constitutional Assembly
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
Purely elected | 1,454,306 | 59.85 |
Partially elected, partially appointed | 975,807 | 40,15 |
Invalid/blank votes | 1,643,431 | – |
Total | 4,073,544 | 100 |
Registered voters/turnout | 6,890,832 | 59.12 |
Source: Direct Democracy |
Timing of National Assembly elections
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
Alongside first round of presidential elections | 1,469,052 | 61.30 |
Alongside second round of presidential elections | 927,290 | 38.70 |
Invalid/blank votes | 1,678,271 | – |
Total | 4,074,613 | 100 |
Registered voters/turnout | 6,890,832 | 59.13 |
Source: Direct Democracy |
References
- ^ Ecuador, 25 May 1997: Parliamentary elections with the first or second round of presidential elections Direct Democracy (in German)
- ^ a b c Anita Breuer (2007) Institutions of Direct Democracy and Accountability in Latin America’s Presidential Democracies Democratization, Vol 14, No 4, August 2007, pp 554–579
- ^ a b Ecuador, 25 May 1997: Removal of President Abdalá Bucaram Direct Democracy (in German)