The president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, is seeking the support of citizens for a number of security measures through a national referendum, which is being produced in in connection with the growing violence in the country, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
Election day was marked by another serious criminal case – the director of one of the prisons in the country was killed, the state service for execution of punishments announced.
The results of public opinion polls show that voters are more likely to support the 11 measures proposed in the referendum by the 36-year-old Noboa. The adoption of five of them will lead to an amendment of the constitution, notes Reuters.
"The result of this referendum will determine the direction of the policy we will pursue," Noboa said at the opening of the vote. "As rulers, we will be obliged to comply with the will of the people”, he added.
However, some sociologists have warned that the daily, multi-hour blackouts that Noboa ordered this week amid drought-related power shortages could damage the president's image and make fewer citizens likely to support the proposed measures. Most of Ecuador's electricity comes from hydroelectric plants.
Ecuador's electoral commission reported that by Sunday afternoon about 60% of voters had come to the polling stations, and voting had ended in almost half of the polling stations abroad.
During the past decade, drug-trafficking criminal groups have expanded their operations to all corners of Latin America, turning once-peaceful countries like Ecuador into battlefields.
In January, violence in Ecuador captured the world's attention after gunmen stormed a live television broadcast.
Earlier that month, riots at various Ecuadorian prisons took hostages and dozens of prison staff.