Elections Convened for Constituent Assembly in Ecuador

(Reprinted from Granma International on-line, April 25, 2007)

QUITO, April 25 (PL).—The Supreme Electoral Court has resolved to convene elections on September 30 for the 130 delegates to a Constituent National Assembly.

The decision was adopted by a plenary session of the Court in which it was announced that nominations of candidates for the Assembly will begin on May 4, according to a spokesperson for that body.

The electoral campaign has been scheduled for August 14 to September 27, the source stated, noting that these agreements are to be officially announced tonight on national radio and television.

The “Yes” victory in favor of setting up a Constituent Assembly in the recent referendum has generated this entire electoral process, which ends April 2008.

According to the statutes approved in the referendum, the population has to elect 100 National Assembly members, 24 Provincial Assembly members and six representing émigrés residing in the United States, Canada, Europe and elsewhere in Latin America.

Once the elections are over, the Assembly would be installed next October to November and would function for 180 days with the possibility of extending its work for a further 60 days.

The Assembly members will have the responsibility to reform the structures of state and draw up a new Constitution, which must be approved in a referendum.