Ecuador: Politics and Governance

Ecuador is a unitary presidential republic, with the President serving as both head of state and head of government, elected alongside the Vice President for four-year terms. The unicameral National Assembly holds legislative authority, and the judiciary operates under the Constitutional Court and the National Court of Justice, with the current constitution, adopted in 2008, expanding rights for Indigenous peoples and enshrining protections for the environment.

Ecuadorian politics has historically been marked by frequent changes in leadership and periods of instability, including several presidents removed from office before completing their terms. In recent years, the country has grappled with rising organized crime and security challenges alongside economic pressures, while maintaining democratic elections and a multiparty political system that includes a range of left- and right-leaning movements.