Senior citizens, beneficiaries of the municipal program, protested at the Constitutional Court following urgent economic reforms to the Cootad approved by the Assembly.
On Wednesday, senior citizens who benefit from the municipal program '60 y Piquito' organized a march to the Ecuadorian Constitutional Court in response to urgent economic reforms made to the Cootad (Código Orgánico de Organización Territorial, Autonomía y Descentralización). These reforms, recently approved by the National Assembly, mandate that from June 1, prefectures and municipalities must allocate at least 70% of their resources to public works, while only 30% can be used for current expenditures. If these agencies fail to comply, the Ministry of Economy and Finance will impose corrective measures.
The reform, officially published on February 23, 2024, aims to enhance the sustainability and efficiency of spending among decentralized autonomous governments (GADs). The beneficiaries of the '60 y Piquito' program aim to voice their concerns regarding the implications of these budgetary restrictions, fearing that they may adversely affect their benefits and municipal services crucial for their well-being.
As a part of their demonstration, the seniors marched from El Arbolito park, traversing through several streets in the northern part of the capital, Quito. They arrived at the Constitutional Court to urge the judiciary to reconsider the impact of these economic reforms on vulnerable segments of the population, stressing the importance of maintaining social support for elderly citizens amid changing budget allocations.
