IN A major defeat for right-wing President Daniel Noboa, Ecuadorians voted on Sunday to strike down a proposal that would have let foreign countries run military bases in their country.

Proposals to launch a process that could lead to a new constitution were also rejected by six out of 10 voters. 

President Noboa, who is closely aligned with the Trump administration, had pushed Ecuador’s courts to include the question about rewriting the constitution.

Mr Noboa said in an X message after the results were released that his government will “respect the will of the people.”

Andrea Endara, a political science professor at Casa Grande University, said the rejection of Mr Noboa’s proposals presented Ecuador’s president with a “shower of humility.”

“Those who voted against the proposals are not just opposition activists, but people who are worried with democratic stability, and who are upset with a government that has not fulfilled promises” like keeping gas prices low, or improving security, she explained.

Voters were also asked if Ecuador should cut public funding for political parties, and if the number of legislators in the National Assembly should be reduced from 151 representatives to 73. 

Both measures were rejected by a wide margin.