Ecuadorians head to polls for referendum as Noboa seeks backing for war on crime

Ecuadorian citizens are due to vote in a referendum sought by President Guillermo Lasso’s government, mainly focusing on battling crime and violence issues impacting the country. One of the country’s prominent businessmen, Alvaro Noboa, is also seeking support and endorsement for this initiative. The referendum contains seven questions, seeking the public’s opinion on a variety of issues including the prohibition of minors working in public spaces, scrapping a law limiting the president to two four-year terms, banning metallic mining activities, and putting a cap on public officials’ wages among others. This vote is being seen as a crucial bellwether of the current government’s popularity and the direction the nation may take moving forward.