Iberoamerican news: Ecuador prepares popular consultation and referendum, Chile and Bolivia condemn statements in Argentina, Spain studies way to regularize migrants’ status

Marina Vanni,  April 18, 2024

Ecuador prepares for the popular consultation and referendum

This Sunday, April 21, Ecuadorians will participate in a popular consultation and referendum called by President Daniel Noboa.

The 11 questions to be discussed focus, for the most part, on potential security reforms to address the violence and crime crisis grappling the country.

Arms control, extradition, assistance from the Armed Forces to the Police, prison sentences, use of military weapons, and increased penalties for serious crimes are some of the issues to be addressed.

Some of the questions correspond to the referendum, which implies changes in the Ecuadorian Constitution, while others correspond to the non-binding popular consultation on the opinion of the inhabitants.

Chile and Bolivia reject Argentine minister’s statements

Argentina’s Security Minister, Patricia Bullrich, assured that pro-Iranian Hezbollah militias were detected in Chile and Bolivia, sparking criticism from both countries on Wednesday, April 17.

The Bolivian government denied this statement and indicated that the Argentine ambassador in La Paz was called for consultations to clarify Bullrich’s words.

In Chile, President Gabriel Boric indicated that a diplomatic note will be delivered to his Argentine counterparts.

The Minister’s remarks come after Javier Milei’s government announced a maximum security alert in the country following Iran’s attack on Israel.

Spain will study a bill to regularize the status of undocumented migrants

The Spanish parliament endorsed the consideration of an initiative to provide work and residence permits to thousands of undocumented foreigners, including numerous people from Africa and Latin America.

The bill will be dealt with in the lower house thanks to a citizens’ initiative, with more than 700,000 signatures and hundreds of organizations expressing their support.

The text of the project, mainly promoted by the self-organized movement Regularization Now, states that between 390,000 and 470,000 foreigners currently live irregularly in Spanish territory, employed mainly in the informal economy.

Author: Marina Vanni