President Rafael Correa of Ecuador scored yet another victory at the ballot boxes with official results showing the weekend's referendum on a new constitution had been approved by over 64 percent of voters.
The new constitution received 64.02 percent "yes" votes, with nearly 92 percent votes counted, Ecuador's Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) said in a communique Monday .
Only two of the country's 24 provinces had turned in "no" votes, the communique added.
During a meeting with foreign media at the government's headquarters in Carondelet Palace, Correa said the new constitution will give political stability to Ecuador, eradicate neo-liberalism and set the foundation for socialism in the country.
"There will be a change in the economical and political models in the country," he said.
The new constitution comes into force next February.
TSE head Jorge Acosta said final results of the referendum will include the votes of Ecuadorians living abroad, which will be counted Monday night.
The approval of the new constitution is the fourth consecutive victory for Correa. He won the presidential elections in 2006 and his proposal to modify the constitution triumphed in a referendum in 2007.
His Country Alliance party also won most of the votes at the Constituent Assembly in Sep. 30, 2007, which was formed to legislate the new constitution.
The approval of the new constitution was a crushing defeat for the opposition, said Correa, according to local media.
The new constitution provides for one consecutive re-election of the president and a reorganization of the judicial system, while prohibiting press monopoly, large-estate ownership and the installation of foreign military bases in the country.
The new constitution also gives the president more powers and strengthens the government's control on strategic economic sectors like oil, mining, electricity, drinking water, telecommunications and agriculture.
The constitution, which will be the 20th to be adopted by country, also opens the possibility of Correa being re-elected and extending his term till 2017.
Source: Xinhua
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