In nine years, the President has granted nationalization to 43 foreigners

In his nine years as president, Rafael Correa  has granted nationalization to 43 foreigners.

It has been done via decrees. The other mechanism is through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two methods are examples of how an outsider can become Ecuadorian, “a sovereign and discretionary act of the executive branch,” says the Naturalization Act

Of the 43 who won the presidential will, 17 are religious, 15 athletes and 11 different professions, as evidenced by the decrees issued between 2007 and this year.

In such documents, Correa motivates its decision on Article 8, paragraph 5, of the Constitution, indicating that they are Ecuadorians or Ecuadorian who “obtain nationality for having provided relevant services to the country with their talent or individual effort.”

Source:http://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/2016/03/14/nota/5464479/suman-43-extranjeros-nacionalizados-decreto