Marxist-Leninist Communist Party of Ecuador (PCMLE) | En Marcha #2177 | March 25 — Apr. 7, 2026 | Translated for the Red Phoenix by Misha G.–

Editor’s note: Daniel Noboa is an incredibly reactionary Ecuadorian politician and millionaire who was elected president in 2023. Since his election, he has embarked on a program of intense neoliberalism, pushing tax breaks for the ultra wealthy, privatization, and attacks on social programs, while deepening Ecuador’s dependence on and subservience to U.S. imperialism. Furthermore, Noboa is a good friend of some of the biggest reactionary figures in global politics, including Donald Trump, Javier Milei (The reactionary Trump supported president of Argentina) and the butcher of men, women and children Benjamin Netenyahu. Daniel Noboa has deepend ties with Israel and is pushing to change the Ecuadorian constitution to allow foreign military bases in the country to please American Imperialism. He has even met with Kristi Noem, the former Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, to coordinate with ICE, an agency that has kidnapped, tortured, and killed thousands of Ecuadorians. His policies have provoked the outrage and protest of the Ecuadorian people who have launched a years-long struggle against him under the slogan of “Fuera Noboa, Fuera!” (Out with Noboa, Out!). Unidad Popular and its affiliated organizations have been at the head of this struggle. We, at the American Party of Labor, detest Noboa’s attempt to ban Unidad Popular and re-produce the statement of the PCMLE on this development in an effort to highlight the struggles of the Ecuadorian working class and furthermore expose the growth of fascism around the world.

In mid to late March, the President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, through unfounded arguments and political maneuvers, attempted to ban the “Unidad Popular” (Popular Unity) party. To this end, he relied on Diana Atamaint, president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), who acted with haste to carry out her bosses orders.

What is the justification for this? According to the CNE, Unidad Popular does not have a sufficient number of members to maintain its electoral registration! But merely stating this is not enough: they must prove it.

More than ten years ago, on Oct. 5, 2015, the CNE registered Unidad Popular after verifying that it met all the requirements mandated by law. At that time, approximately 174,000 valid signatures were required to register a political organization. Unidad Popular submitted 182,591 supporters, 34,792 of whom were permanent members, thereby meeting the required 10% of active members. 

After MPD (Democratic People’s Movement) regained legal recognition, a merger, a mechanism provided for by law, took place between the MPD and the nascent Popular Unity. In this process, the MPD contributed 181,305 members.

When added to the supporters of Unidad Popular, the total amounts to 216,330 affiliations, which constitute the organization’s legitimate registry. However, there is now an attempt to disavow more than 180,000 affiliates originating from the MPD and to reduce the figure to a mere 31,000 permanent supporters!

The CNE is under an obligation to demonstrate that more than 180,000 disaffiliations (In addition to new members who have joined since these numbers were calculated) have occurred in order to justify this arbitrary act.

The attempt to carry out this illegal act last Friday, March 20, failed to succeed, as it did not garner the necessary votes. However, Noboa and his lackeys have not abandoned their plan to illegalize Unidad Popular and continue to pressure the councilors to vote affirmatively for this unjustifiable act. As of press time, the President of the CNE has issued several calls to this effect.

Why is this happening? Noboa seeks to outlaw “Unidad Popular” due to the role the party has played in denouncing the government’s anti-popular policies, as well as for its constant presence alongside workers and the people in all their struggles.

Defending the legal status of *Unidad Popular* is not a task exclusive to its membership, but rather one that belongs to all democratic, progressive, and leftist sectors.

Our party is part of this struggle.

Categories: Ecuador, International