Ecuador's President changes six ministers after defeat in referendum

Quito.- The President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, replaced six ministers from his cabinet after the defeat he suffered last Sunday in the referendum, in which Ecuadorians rejected all his proposals, including the installation of a Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution. Among the ministers leaving their posts are Zaida Rovira (Government), Ivonne Núñez (Labor), Alegría Crepos (Education), Jimmy Martín (Health), Danilo Palacios (Agriculture) and Harold Burbano (Human Development), as announced this Tuesday by the Presidency in a statement. However, Rovira and Burbano will remain in the Government, appointed to the ministries of Human Development and Labor, respectively, as part of this cabinet reshuffle by Noboa. Noboa appointed Álvaro Rosero as Minister of Government and left the Ministry of Health temporarily in the hands of the Vice President of Ecuador, María José Pinto, after the departure of Jimmy Martín. In replacement of Danilo Palacio in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Noboa appointed Juan Carlos Vega, who was his Minister of Economy between November 2023 and February 2025. In the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, Gilda Alcivar will replace Crespo.

You can also read: The 'No' remains in the questions of the Ecuador referendum

Likewise, Noboa thanked Jorge Carrillo for his services in the National Risk Management Secretariat (SNGR) and appointed Carolina Lozano in his place. On the other hand, the spokesperson for the Presidency, Carolina Jaramillo, announced this Tuesday on her X social media account that she is also leaving the position.

"It was an honor to be your spokesperson. I said it the first time I addressed the country and I reiterate it today, I enjoyed every moment and I vehemently believe that one must love what one does, even more so when serving the country," said Jaramillo.

The spokesperson added that "democracy is a constant exercise of freedom, which is exercised from all spaces. I am leaving the position of Spokesperson, but I take with me the commitment to build a New Ecuador".

The cabinet reshuffle occurred after Noboa suffered his first major defeat at the polls, where the people also rejected the possibility of establishing a Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution to replace the current magna carta, inherited from correismo.