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Ecuador referendum row escalates Ecuador referendum row escalates
(about 2 hours later)
Political tension is rising in Ecuador over a referendum on the drafting of a new constitution, planned for 15 April.Political tension is rising in Ecuador over a referendum on the drafting of a new constitution, planned for 15 April.
The opposition-controlled Congress has announced plans to impeach some members of the electoral tribunal for their decision to vote in favour of the poll. The opposition-controlled Congress has announced plans to impeach four members of the seven-seat electoral tribunal, which approved the referendum.
The move comes a day after Congress voted to remove the president of the tribunal, Jorge Acosta, from office. Meanwhile, the tribunal's president is seeking to fire 57 lawmakers who voted on Tuesday to oust him from office.
Left-wing President Rafael Correa, who was elected in November, is seeking a referendum to restructure Congress. Left-wing President Rafael Correa, who was elected in November, is seeking the referendum to restructure Congress.
The referendum would decide whether to form a national assembly that would then consider reforms.The referendum would decide whether to form a national assembly that would then consider reforms.
If Mr Correa has his way, ties with the IMF and the World Bank could be cut and the country's foreign debt restructured. Its oil wealth, he has said, will go back to the people.If Mr Correa has his way, ties with the IMF and the World Bank could be cut and the country's foreign debt restructured. Its oil wealth, he has said, will go back to the people.
Opinion polls suggest about 70% of Ecuadorians are in favour of an assembly.Opinion polls suggest about 70% of Ecuadorians are in favour of an assembly.
Opposition figures say that Mr Correa is using the referendum to bypass legislature and consolidate his presidential authority.Opposition figures say that Mr Correa is using the referendum to bypass legislature and consolidate his presidential authority.
'Tit-for-tat' 'Political turmoil'
On Tuesday, 52 lawmakers in the 100-strong Congress voted to fire Mr Acosta for his decision to approve the referendum and replace him with Alejandro Cepeda. On Tuesday, 57 lawmakers in the 100-strong Congress voted to fire Mr Acosta for his decision to approve the referendum, and replace him with Alejandro Cepeda.
In a BBC interview, Mr Acosta said he had no intention of leaving his post and had, in turn, ordered the removal from office of the 52 deputies who voted against him. In a BBC interview, Mr Acosta said he had no intention of leaving his post and had, in turn, ordered the removal from office of the 57 deputies who voted against him.
Ecuador's government has said it will back the move, adding the electoral laws can be applied to any public official who interferes with an electoral process. Ecuador's government said it will back the move, adding the electoral laws can be applied to any public official who interferes with an electoral process.
But its legality remains unclear. Both sides have categorically rejected their dismissals as unconstitutional.
"The tribunal has no power to remove elected officials from office," said Alfonso Harb, an opposition lawmaker and one of those being sanctioned. "This ruling is completely invalid." Congress had initially backed the referendum following weeks of protests and intense negotiations but later pulled its support after President Correa made last-minute revisions to the text, something which they say is unconstitutional.
In an apparent tit-for-tat, Congress now plans to impeach Mr Acosta and three other justices. The electoral tribunal has stood by its decision to move ahead with the referendum, saying there is no turning back from an electoral process which is already under way and which Congress had already approved.
A BBC correspondent in Ecuador says there is concern that the situation could continue to deteriorate in the coming days. The BBC's Americas editor Emilio San Pedro says Ecuador is no stranger to political turmoil and there is growing concern the spat could deteriorate in the coming days.