Presidential candidate Luisa González, of the Citizens’ Revolution (RC), referred to the new ruling by the electoral body in these terms during an interview and questioned whether they are planning fraud or “stealing our democracy.”
RC legislators issued a statement, classifying the measure as a new maneuver intended to hinder the political organization’s electoral oversight.
“And most seriously, the CNE is completely subservient to the interests of Daniel Noboa. Three of its five councilors act as political operatives for the regime,” the parliamentary group warned in its statement. Political analyst Décio Machado said he has worked on electoral campaigns on three continents, but “I have never seen anything like this… what is happening in Ecuador is very worrying.”
There are also questions from the legal community, such as that of attorney Gonzalo Muñoz, who described this electoral process as “the least transparent and most flawed since the return to democracy” and noted that the decision should lead to political and even criminal liability against CNE councilors.
The proposal to prohibit the use of electronic devices came from the Executive Branch, whose president, Daniel Noboa, is seeking reelection and said in an interview that voters for his rival from the RC party cast their ballots under threats from criminal groups.
Attorney Fernando Bastias, of the Permanent Committee for the Defense of Human Rights-Guayaquil, explained that a prior regulation governing the exercise of freedom of expression is necessary, issued before the electoral context, as mandated by law.
Anything resolved overnight has no effect, declared Bastias, who, like other users, stated that on April 13, the day of the runoff, he will go to vote with his cell phone to photograph his vote.
Constitutional lawyer Ximena Ron commented on her X account that “every day there are more persecutions and fewer freedoms, and yet they dare to claim that they are the democratic proposal. Underestimating the people is always a mistake.”
Amid criticism, the CNE clarified that this resolution does not prevent delegates from political organizations, media representatives, and national and international observers from recording images and videos of voting day and the vote counting process.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Government applauded the decision, which “strengthens citizens’ security in the electoral process, saying no to extorted votes (…) and reducing the risk of intimidation by criminal organizations seeking to influence the sovereign will of the people.”
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