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Background

Preliminary Report of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission in Ecuador

The full Preliminary Report is available here.

The Electoral Observation Mission of the Organization of American States (EOM/OAS), headed by former Vice President and Foreign Affairs Minister of Panama, Isabel de Saint Malo, salutes the people of Ecuador for holding the early presidential and legislative elections and popular consultations on Yasuní and Chocó Andino this past Sunday, August 20. The Mission underscores the civic commitment and resilience of Ecuador’s citizens, while acknowledging the efforts of polling stations members, electoral institution officials, the Armed Forces, and the National Police.

The EOM/OAS included 80 experts and observers representing 20 nationalities, who observed the elections and the popular consultation in 20 of Ecuador’s provinces and the metropolitan district of Quito. The Mission analyzed various aspects of the elections, such as electoral organization, electoral technology, political-electoral financing, electoral justice, women’s political participation, electoral violence, and the political participation of indigenous and afro-descendant populations. In addition, its experts followed up the recommendations made by earlier OAS missions.

The members of the Mission arrived at the country in stages starting on August 10, 2023 and met with political actors, electoral and government authorities, candidates, and representatives of civil society to learn about the preparations and their perspectives on the elections. These meetings, analysis of regulations and other documents, and direct observation enabled the Mission to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the electoral process.

BACKGROUND

On May 17, 2023, the President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, issued executive decree No. 741,2 exercising the power established in Article 148 of the Constitution to dissolve the National Assembly, called the “crossed death” (muerta cruzada) provision, invoking the grounds of a “serious political crisis and internal unrest.” This is the first time that this provision has been invoked since enactment of the 2008 Political Constitution. Once the legislative branch was dissolved, the executive branch governed by economic emergency decree-laws.

The Constitution establishes that once this power is invoked, the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral-CNE) must call for presidential and legislative elections in the seven days following dissolution of the Assembly, which elections could be held within the next 90 days, as provided in Article 87 of the Democracy Code. Pursuant to that provision, on May 23, 2023 the CNE called on the citizens to participate in the early presidential and legislative elections to be held on August 20, 2023, as well as a possible second round on October 15, 2023.

The candidates elected in these elections will complete the remaining period in the current term until general elections are held in 2025.

In addition, on June 21, 2023 the CNE convened a popular consultation in the Yasuní to decide on oil drilling in the fields of Ishpingo, Tambococha, and Tiputini,4 and the popular consultation on mining metal in the communities of the Andean Chocó.5 Thus, both consultations were held along with the early elections.

PRE-ELECTORAL PHASE

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The full Preliminary Report is available here.

Reference: S-012/23