In Ecuador, court suspends presidential decree on referendum to create constituent assembly

Ecuador's constitutional court on Saturday suspended a decree by which the president sought to create a special body to toughen laws against drug trafficking and organized crime. The suspension remains in effect while the court evaluates five claims of unconstitutionality, and deepens the crisis between President Daniel Noboa and the court, which has stymied several of his policies on rights grounds. [ . . . ] Noboa on Wednesday proposed a referendum be held to approve the creation of a Constituent Assembly to draw up a new constitution, with stricter laws to tackle drug gangs. The new document would, in turn, also be put to a referendum. The president has made several attempts to circumvent the court and call directly for a popular vote without prior review by the judges on the formation of a Constituent Assembly.
Read the full article here: Eyewitness News