Executive Retaliation Against Ecuador’s Constitutional Court: The Rule of Law Under Siege
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Release date: September 22, 2026
Recent years have seen several Latin American governments revive the repressive mano dura (iron fist) approach to combating rising crime. Ecuador has become one of the most notable adopters of this regional trend, with President Noboa following the example set by El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele.
Since taking office in November 2023, President Noboa has responded to escalating criminal violence by imposing repeated states of exception, decreeing an “internal armed conflict,” deploying the military for law enforcement purposes, and adopting repressive detention policies.
The report, Executive Retaliation Against Ecuador's Constitutional Court: The Rule of Law Under Siege, analyzes how the Court has consistently upheld its constitutional mandate while ruling against efforts by Noboa and National Democratic Action (ADN) to expand executive power beyond constitutional limits through states of exception and fast-tracked "economic urgency" laws.
The report finds that intimidation of justices, retaliatory investigations, and efforts to weaken the Court’s powers threaten the independence of the country’s principal independent check on the Executive.