1997 Ecuadorian referendum

A fourteen-part referendum was held in Ecuador on 25 May 1997. Voters were asked whether they approved of the dismissal of President Abdalá Bucaram by the National Congress, the appointment of Fabián Alarcón as interim President for twelve months, the calling of a Constitutional Assembly, whether a Constitutional Assembly should be elected by direct elections or by appointment, whether spending limits should be introduced for election campaigns, whether voters should be able to modify electoral lists, whether National Assembly elections should be held alongside the first or second round of presidential elections,Ecuador, 25 May 1997: Parliamentary elections with the first or second round of presidential elections Direct Democracy de whether political parties that fail to cross the 5% threshold in two consecutive elections should be deregistered, whether the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) should reflect the political makeup of the National Congress, whether the National Congress should appoint managers of state-owned companies with a two-thirds majority, reforms to the justice system, allowing the Supreme Court to appoint judicial authority member, whether elected officials who commit a criminal offence should be removed from office, and whether the National Assembly should implement the 13 proposals.Anita Breuer (2007) Institutions of Direct Democracy and Accountability in Latin America’s Presidential Democracies Democratization, Vol 14, No 4, August 2007, pp 554–579 All eleven proposals were approved by voters. After all yes/no questions were approved, a Constitutional Assembly was subsequently elected in 1997 and produced a new constitution which entered into force on 10 August 1998.Ecuador, 25 May 1997: Removal of President Abdalá Bucaram Direct Democracy de Background On 6 February 1997 the Constitutional Assembly had removed President Bucaram from office due to "mental retardation". However, it had not been done by a majority of 67 of the 100 members as proscribed by the constitution. On 8 April interim President Alarcón issued decree 201, calling a referendum on 14 questions, as allowed by article 58 of the constitution. Results Yes/no questions IssueForAgainstInvalid/blankTotalRegisteredvotersTurnoutVotes%Votes%Removal of President Abdalá Bucaram from office2,488,77875.76796,15424.24798,1744,083,1066,890,83259.25Appointment of Fabián Alarcón Rivera as interim President2,241,29968.371,036,72231.63802,6024,080,62359.20Election of a Constitutional Assembly1,903,96264.581,044,18835.421,130,6714,078,82159.19Spending limits on election campaigns1,999,77669.87862,37730.131,218,0784,080,23159.21Deregister parties failing to cross the 5% threshold twice in a row1,892,18068.45872,33031.551,314,9474,079,45759.20TSE composition to reflect party strength1,592,94558.671,122,23441.331,361,9274,077,10659.17National Assembly to appoint heads of state-owned companies1,373,95750.751,333,33949.251,369,4474,076,74359.16Judicial reforms1,651,16260.731,067,72439.271,356,5064,075,39259.14Supreme Court to elect judicial authorities1,512,40655.971,189,97644.031,372,9314,075,31359.14Sacking of elected officials who commit criminal offences1,615,29260.251,065,85039.751,393,4774,074,61959.13Allowing electoral list modification1,250,66351.651,170,86548.351,649,3114,070,83959.08National Assembly to pass reforms within 60 days1,790,38366.88886,45933.121,396,2594,073,10159.11Source: Direct Democracy Method of election of a Constitutional Assembly ChoiceVotes%Purely elected1,454,30659.85Partially elected, partially appointed975,80740,15Invalid/blank votes1,643,431–Total4,073,544100Registered voters/turnout6,890,83259.12Source: Direct Democracy Timing of National Assembly elections ChoiceVotes%Alongside first round of presidential elections1,469,05261.30Alongside second round of presidential elections927,29038.70Invalid/blank votes1,678,271–Total4,074,613100Registered voters/turnout6,890,83259.13Source: Direct Democracy References Category:Referendums in Ecuador Category:1997 in Ecuador Category:1997 referendums Category:Electoral reform referendums Category:Electoral reform in Ecuador