Constitutional Amendments with Impact on the Ecuador Autonomous Governments

Abstract

This paper focuses its analysis on the constitutional amendments applicable to decentralized autonomous governments, approved by the National Assembly of Ecuador; particularly regarding to: (i) limits to the popular consultation in the areas of competence of each level of government, which restricts the principle of participatory democracy; (ii) the effects generated by the indefinite application of the same elected office which differ in substance between the exercise of the presidency of the republic and mayors or provincial prefectures; (iii) confers jurisdiction to plan, build and maintain the physical infrastructure and equipment in health and education, in an integral way the central government, which, while not affecting the rights of recipients, constitutes a setback in the decentralization process; (iv) eliminates the deadline for forming the autonomous regional governments, which hinders the implementation of a more effective decentralization and autonomy political-administrative division.