It is not possible to do this on the basis of beliefs; because you cannot engage in politics without being convinced that life does not end with the election date; and because we must be convinced that “doing politics” requires perseverance, tenacity, learning from mistakes and knowing how to get back up after a setback. Or two.
But then you can’t throw in the towel because an electoral victory shouldn’t always be confused with a political victory.
This is exactly what happened in Ecuador. Many believed that Noboa’s victory in the presidential elections a few months ago was a political victory. And no. The Ecuadorian citizens told him No, no, no and no. Four times no.
He said no to the question. A resounding no to amending the Constitution to return to an old regime without rights, justice and sovereignty. 61.6% rejected Noboa’s initiative to convene a Constituent Assembly.
He said no to the installation of foreign military bases (60.6%).
He said no to the public defunding of political parties (58%).
He said no to the reduction of members of the legislative assembly (53.4%).
On average, Noboa received only 41.5% support. A value slightly lower than that obtained in the first round (44.1%) and very far from that obtained in the second round (55.6%).
Noboa’s big mistake was making the wrong diagnosis. He thought he had much more than he actually has. He confused voting on time with voting forever. He was intoxicated by the electoral result of the second round, he was emboldened and thought he had a blank check to do anything. And no. The citizens said no.
Noboa is the result of chaos. He or anyone else could have been elected in a country that stopped functioning years ago, after the arrival of Lenín Moreno.
Noboa is an electoral carom that occurred in 2023, when Guillermo Lasso’s mandate was interrupted due to something known in Ecuador as “cross-death” (a constitutional figure that allows the Executive and the Legislative to be dissolved, forcing the immediate calling of elections).
Almost two years later, with terrible management, without resolving the rampant insecurity and leaving the country without electricity for many months, he won again in 2025 with a result as surprising as it was suspicious in the second round. And then, later, the loner was deceived, as happens to so many other presidents who do not assimilate his true political support. They confuse the second round vote in a given situation with unwavering support and breast die.
And then he decided to do more and made a major unforced error that could impact his tenure.
This categorical no to Noboa opens up a yes, we can build an alternative to this failed institutional, economic and social model that has led the vast majority of the Ecuadorian people to live worse. Exactly the opposite of the good life proposed in the current Constitution of Montecristi.
Noboa lost the plebiscite he called by a landslide. This shows that there is a majority that rejects his way of doing politics and that puts a brake on him.
This political irresponsibility of Noboa must have its consequences and must be accepted.
Isn’t it time Noboa himself held another consultation asking citizens whether to continue or not? I propose the wording of the question: do you agree that Mr. Daniel Roy Gilchrist Noboa Azín continues to be the president of the country after being defeated at the polls in a consultation that represented a plebiscite on his mandate?
