However, the Government responded that as long as the National Electoral Council does not officially notify the results, after the closure of the ballots, operations can continue. And he recalled that the Constitutional Court granted a one-year term to finalize the closure of operations.
Members of the Yasunidos collective at a press conference in Quito, on May 10, 2023.
The Yasunidos environmental group, which promoted the referendum to stop oil exploitation in block 43-ITT, demanded that the government immediately cease oil extraction, after winning the referendum.
The environmental group recalled in a statement issued on the night of August 24, 2023, that the results of the plebiscite on Block 43-ITT., located within the Yasuní National Park, must be applied immediately once the results are officially proclaimed.
In this way they responded to the Minister of Energy and Mines, Fernando Santos Alvite, who on Wednesday anticipated that the Government will not abide, for the moment, the results of the popular consultation that was held at the national level.
In statements to journalists, Minister Santos said that, for the Government, the results of the consultation at the national level are not applicable.
He argued that the Constitution states that only the inhabitants of the area where the deposit is located can decide on it, for which he urged environmentalists to ask the Constitutional Court for clarification.
Yasunidos adds that, if there are indications that the national government wants to fail to comply with the plebiscite, it will request the Court to “enforce its ruling and to dismiss officials who intend to put the constitutional order at risk.”
With 97.84% of the votes counted at the national level of this historic plebiscite that sets a worldwide precedent, the “Yes” to cease the activity of Block 43-ITT won with 58.97% compared to 41.03 % of “No”.
The Government responds.
The Secretary of Communication of the Presidency issued a statement, on August 24, 2023, in which it reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to respect the decision expressed by the voters in the national consultation.
But he recalled that the measures to progressively reduce oil extraction will only start ” from the notification of the official results.” In other words, there is no impediment for the activities to continue or increase while the National Electoral Council notifies the official results.
In addition, the process of closing extractivist activities could take up to a year, according to what was decreed by the same Constitutional Court.
