Water Law was approved in the Constituent Assembly of Ecuador

The Water Law was approved in the National Assembly with 103 votes in favor, 21 against and 6 abstentions. At 12h15 the President of the Assembly Gabriela Rivadeneira closed the intervention of the second debate and initiated the vote.

The Assemblyman Miguel Carvajal of the Alianza PAÍS movement (AP), Chairman of the Committee on Food Sovereignty, and rapporteur of the project highlighted the advantages of the document. He said he respects the priority order defined by the Constitution: first the water for human consumption; second, water for irrigation; and thirdly: for the production of food sovereignty. Besides it ensures the ecological flow, the different uses and water management and sustainability of the systems.

At 9H30 eleven Assemblymen intervened to present suggestions and changes to the document´s content.

César Umajinga, of the left movement, anticipated that they will not vote because the Water Act does not meet the stated needs of indigenous communities.

While members od the ruling party as William Garzón defended the Law because it guarantees the rights and redistribution of resources equitably, and submitted comments on Articles 12, 18 and 22.

Mariángel Muñoz and María José Carrión, of AP movement, emphasized that the draft makes clear that water will not beprivatized.