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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ecuador's Correa claims poll win | Ecuador's Correa claims poll win |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Ecuadorian voters have convincingly approved a new constitution that increases presidential powers, exit polls indicate. | Ecuadorian voters have convincingly approved a new constitution that increases presidential powers, exit polls indicate. |
| They say it was backed by at least two-thirds of voters. Left-wing President Rafael Correa hailed an "historic win". | They say it was backed by at least two-thirds of voters. Left-wing President Rafael Correa hailed an "historic win". |
| He has said the new constitution will help bring about a more just society and tackle instability in Ecuador. | He has said the new constitution will help bring about a more just society and tackle instability in Ecuador. |
| It will enable him to run for two new, consecutive terms. But critics say it gives the president too much power. | It will enable him to run for two new, consecutive terms. But critics say it gives the president too much power. |
| The constitution allows him to dissolve Congress within the first three years of its four-year term. | The constitution allows him to dissolve Congress within the first three years of its four-year term. |
| The 444-article constitution will be the Andean nation's 20th. | The 444-article constitution will be the Andean nation's 20th. |
| The package contains some of the most wide-ranging proposals the country - or any country in the region - has ever seen, says the BBC's Daniel Schweimler. | The package contains some of the most wide-ranging proposals the country - or any country in the region - has ever seen, says the BBC's Daniel Schweimler. |
| Investors worried | Investors worried |
| Exit polls released by two different firms soon after voting stopped indicated that from 66-70% supported the new constitution. | |
| "We're making history! Onward!" President Correa urged a crowd of supporters in his coastal hometown of Guayaquil. | |
| "This is confirmation of the citizen's revolution we're offering." | |
| Mr Correa, a 45-year-old US-trained economist, has said he is fulfilling the promises he made when he won elections nearly two years ago. | |
| He was elected following years of turmoil in Ecuador which saw angry crowds throw three presidents from office in the previous 10 years. | He was elected following years of turmoil in Ecuador which saw angry crowds throw three presidents from office in the previous 10 years. |
| KEY POINTS Tightening controls of vital industries and reducing monopolies Declaring some foreign loans illegitimateExpropriating and redistributing idle farm landAllowing the president to stand for a second four-year term in office Giving free health care for older citizens Allowing civil marriage for gay partners The poor bank on referendum | KEY POINTS Tightening controls of vital industries and reducing monopolies Declaring some foreign loans illegitimateExpropriating and redistributing idle farm landAllowing the president to stand for a second four-year term in office Giving free health care for older citizens Allowing civil marriage for gay partners The poor bank on referendum |
| The articles in the proposed constitution include plans to tighten control of vital industries such as oil and mining. | The articles in the proposed constitution include plans to tighten control of vital industries such as oil and mining. |
| Some foreign loans could be declared illegitimate so they would not have to be paid and there are plans to give free health care to older citizens. | Some foreign loans could be declared illegitimate so they would not have to be paid and there are plans to give free health care to older citizens. |
| President Correa is offering more say in the running of the country to women, the poor and Ecuador's large indigenous community. | President Correa is offering more say in the running of the country to women, the poor and Ecuador's large indigenous community. |
| He says he is trying to reduce the power and influence of the business and land-owning elite which has always run the country. | He says he is trying to reduce the power and influence of the business and land-owning elite which has always run the country. |
| Not surprisingly, there has been opposition to the proposals, says our South America correspondent. | Not surprisingly, there has been opposition to the proposals, says our South America correspondent. |
| Some say Mr Correa is a puppet of the Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, and that the state will interfere unnecessarily in business affairs. | Some say Mr Correa is a puppet of the Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, and that the state will interfere unnecessarily in business affairs. |
| Foreign investors, especially in Ecuador's oil industry, are concerned that the new laws will reduce their profits and that the country will not pay its foreign debts, he says. | Foreign investors, especially in Ecuador's oil industry, are concerned that the new laws will reduce their profits and that the country will not pay its foreign debts, he says. |
| The US, he adds, will be worried about what many there see as another move to the left in Latin America. | The US, he adds, will be worried about what many there see as another move to the left in Latin America. |
| In his speech after the referendum, Mr Correa urged those who voted against the new constitution to put aside their differences. | |
| "Let them acknowledge defeat and let's strike out together in the new direction the great majority of Ecuadorans, as well as all Latin America, are setting: a society with more justice, much more equality and without so much... misery." |