The general secretary of this political organization, Winston Alarcón, called the militants and citizens in general to vote No, because this procedure ‘will not solve the structural problems existing in the country, nor the social, political and economic crisis’.

They want to distract us with demagogic and tricky solutions, with hook questions to cover the political incapacity of Lasso and those who promote a neoliberal and extractivist agenda, the leader of the PCE pointed out.

With two of the eight questions, for example, they intend to eliminate the power of the Council of Citizen Participation and Social Control (Cpccs) to appoint control authorities and thus negotiate with large power groups who occupy those functions, as well as to extend the current authorities, Alarcón said.

He also referred to the fact that if the consultation were approved, the democratic rights of Ecuadorians would be violated by eliminating political representation from provinces such as Orellana, Cañar or Morona Santiago, among others.

Likewise, the PCE considered that the extradition of Ecuadorians proposed in the referendum will not reduce violence and insecurity, for which reason it called on the authorities to invest in education, health and to increase sources of employment.

We know that this will not be possible with a government handed over to banking oligarchies, multinationals, the interests of the US government and to the International Monetary Fund, Alarcón said.

The rejection of the referendum has also been made explicit by the November 15 Popular Committee, which includes several leftist organizations, the Pachakutik party and the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE).

Likewise, the Federation of University Students (FEUE) and groups in Ecuador say NO campaign, against the procedure. For them, the Executive spends on publicity to win votes in its favor and approve a consultation that in reality seeks to improve its image and accumulate more power by capturing the control functions of the State, such as the Attorney General’s Office or the superintendencies, in order to guarantee impunity.

More than 13 million Ecuadorians are called to the polls on February 5 not only to vote on the referendum, but also to elect prefects and vice-prefects, mayors, councilmen and members of parish councils.

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