Ecuador’s top court blocks president’s bid for new constitution

The suspension will remain in effect while the court reviews five challenges to the decree’s constitutionality, deepening the rift between Noboa and the judiciary, which has already obstructed several of his policies.

Facing large protests led by the president, the court stated in a communiqué: “The court is not an enemy of the people, but a guardian of their rights.”

On Wednesday, Noboa had proposed a referendum to approve the creation of a constituent assembly tasked with drafting a new constitution that would include tougher measures to confront drug gangs.

The president has previously made several unsuccessful attempts to bypass the court and call a direct popular vote to form the assembly without judicial oversight.

Ecuador, located between Colombia and Peru — the world’s largest cocaine producers — is the departure point for 70% of global drug supplies, drawing criminal gangs from around the world.

Noboa, an ally of US president Donald Trump, was re-elected in April after voters endorsed his hard-line stance against rampant drug-related violence, which has transformed the country from one of Latin America’s safest nations into one of its most dangerous.