Ecuador’s president adds new questions to proposed referendum focused on crime

Ecuadoreans will be asked to weigh in on an expanded list of questions proposed by President Daniel Noboa, including a push to allow for extraditions of
citizens accused of crimes in other countries, according to a government statement on Monday.
Early last year, voters rejected a similar attempt at undoing the South American country’s ban on extraditions.
The plebiscite, which still needs approval from the country’s top court, would largely focus on boosting the government’s crime-fighting efforts, including allowing for asset seizures from suspected criminals and yanking illegal mining concessions implicated in other crimes such as drug trafficking.
The president’s proposed referendum seeks to unite the country “in one fist that can confront the criminal element that wants to defeat the government,” according to the statement.
Other potential questions would aim at pro-business measures like allowing for arbitration to resolve contractual conflicts as well as hourly employment options.