Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
An 'urgent' efficiency law working through the National Assembly would force Quito to slash current spending and could eliminate 5,000 municipal positions. Mental health services, community dining, animal welfare programs, and even Metro expansion plans are on the chopping block.
Aquiles Alvarez, the sitting mayor of Ecuador's largest city, was arrested on organized crime and money laundering charges and transferred to Latacunga prison. Over 50,000 people marched in his defense while a massive commercial building fire burned just eight blocks away.
President Daniel Noboa has been invited to a Trump-hosted Latin American presidential summit on March 7 in Miami, aimed at countering Chinese influence in the region. The U.S. also highlighted Ecuador's mining potential and signed a critical minerals agreement.
The National Assembly approved the Organic Law for Strengthening Cybersecurity with 82 votes. The law requires mandatory cybersecurity education in schools, establishes incident reporting obligations for organizations, and aligns Ecuador with international standards like ISO 27000 and the Budapest Convention.
Ecuador’s second-largest city lost its mayor. Aquiles Alvarez was ordered into preventive detention on organized crime and fuel trafficking charges as part of the ‘Caso Goleada’ investigation. He was transferred to Latacunga prison — 11 others arrested across Guayas province.
Several indigenous organizations have announced a formal legal process to revoke President Daniel Noboa’s mandate, citing unfulfilled commitments and growing social discontent. The recall faces steep constitutional hurdles but signals deepening political tensions.
Ecuarunari's new president Leonidas Iza announced that indigenous organizations will formally pursue a mandate revocation against President Daniel Noboa, citing broken promises and growing social discontent. The constitutional process requires over two million signatures and cannot begin until May 2026.
Municipal employees across at least 15 cantons in Loja province are owed between two and four months of back pay. The crisis affects services in the Vilcabamba valley, where road maintenance and building permits are delayed.
A bill working its way through Ecuador's legislature would establish a dedicated digital nomad visa with a $1,500 monthly income requirement and a two-year term -- potentially making the country far more accessible for remote workers.
