Ecuador pushes tenancy law amendment and broader constitutional reforms

The Ecuadorian Congress is reviewing a bill to amend the National Tenancy Law, inserting a pre‑litigation mediation stage for lease disputes. The draft mentions an “arbitral award” but retains the existing jurisdiction of tenancy judges, meaning no implicit change to their competence without explicit legislative wording.

Political commentators are also proposing sweeping constitutional changes: lowering the signature threshold for popular initiatives, removing the Constitutional Court’s prior review, allowing citizen‑initiated presidential recall, decriminalising peaceful protests, and establishing clearer security protocols for security forces. These measures aim to broaden democratic participation and curb abuse of power.