Ecuador’s Constitutional Court on Saturday suspended a presidential decree that sought to create a special body aimed at strengthening laws against drug trafficking and organised crime.

The suspension will remain in effect while the court examines five claims of unconstitutionality, intensifying tensions between President Daniel Noboa and the judiciary. The court has previously blocked several of Noboa’s policies on rights-based grounds.

In a statement, the court emphasised: “The Court is not the enemy of the people. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is the guardian of their rights.”

This comes amid large-scale protests led by the president in response to the court’s rulings.

On Wednesday, Noboa proposed a referendum to approve the creation of a Constituent Assembly tasked with drafting a new constitution. The new constitution would include stricter legislation to combat drug gangs, and it too would be submitted to a popular vote.

Noboa has repeatedly attempted to bypass the court, seeking to call a direct popular vote without prior judicial review on the formation of the Constituent Assembly.

Ecuador is strategically located between Colombia and Peru, the world’s largest cocaine producers. Approximately 70 per cent of the global cocaine supply passes through Ecuador, attracting criminal organisations from across the region.

Noboa, an ally of former US President Donald Trump, was reelected in April. His victory reflected voter support for his hardline stance against cartel violence, which has transformed Ecuador from one of Latin America’s safest nations to one of its most dangerous.

Key Points Table

The suspension highlights the ongoing institutional clash in Ecuador, reflecting the delicate balance between executive ambition and judicial oversight in a country grappling with escalating cartel violence.