Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa speaks during a protest march after the country's constitutional court temporarily suspended key parts of his security laws recently passed by the legislature, in Quito, Ecuador August 12, 2025. REUTERS/Karen Toro
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa gestures as he walks with Ecuador’s Minister of Interior John Reinberg, while taking part in a protest march after the country's constitutional court temporarily suspended key parts of Noboa's security laws recently passed by the legislature, in Quito, Ecuador August 12, 2025. REUTERS/Karen Toro
Supporters of Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa gather for a protest march after the country's constitutional court temporarily suspended key parts of his security laws recently passed by the legislature, in Quito, Ecuador August 12, 2025. REUTERS/Karen Toro
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa, Ecuador’s Minister of Interior John Reinberg and Ecuador’s Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo walk sorrounded by supporters of Noboa, during a protest march after the country's constitutional court temporarily suspended key parts of his security laws recently passed by the legislature, in Quito, Ecuador August 12, 2025. REUTERS/Karen Toro
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa walks with Ecuador’s Minister of Interior John Reinberg, as they take part in a protest march after the country's constitutional court temporarily suspended key parts of Noboa's security laws recently passed by the legislature, in Quito, Ecuador August 12, 2025. REUTERS/Karen Toro

By Alexandra Valencia

QUITO (Reuters) -Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa on Tuesday led a march against a decision by the constitutional court to temporarily suspend provisions in recently passed security laws, in what critics say is an attempt to curtail judicial independence.

Noboa has said the march was intended to preserve vital efforts to combat crime gangs, but detractors say he is interfering with judicial independence and trying to pressure judges to accept his government's reforms.

A top United Nations human rights official said the court's independence must be guaranteed, while Ecuador's other top court - the National Justice Court - said in a statement disagreements should be resolved through due process.

The court backed the suspensions after rights groups argued the measures, including immunity for security force members investigated for misconduct, a provision obliging telephone service providers to hand over certain information and changes to banking cooperatives could conflict with citizens' rights.

"We are here to seek justice and to seek peace, we are not here to run over anyone, we follow the mandate of the people," said Noboa, speaking into a megaphone at the march.

Noboa's National Democratic Action party controls the legislature, where the three laws containing the provisions were approved in June.

One billboard along the route featured the names and photos of the nine justices in the constitutional court with the text: "These are the judges who are stealing our peace. They signed against laws that would protect us".

Noboa's spokesperson said that billboard and others were not paid for by the government.

"We are not going to permit change to be halted because of nine people who don't even show their face, who want to hide their names and their faces from society," added Noboa, dressed in a black anti-ballistic vest over a dark T-shirt.

Ecuador's constitution prevents supreme court justices from speaking publicly about cases before them.

The signage increases security risks for the judges and directly affects the court's independence, the court said in a statement, also decrying changes to security provisions for its headquarters on Tuesday, which marchers passed yelling "out corrupt judges!".

Debate on the suspended measures should take place at public hearings scheduled to begin next week, the court added.

"Attacks against Ecuador's Constitutional Court are unacceptable. The authorities must guarantee the Court's independence and the safety of judges and personnel," United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a post from his office's X account.

Noboa has deployed the army on the streets in a bid to curb violence, while pushing measures like increased sentences for drug trafficking.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Ed Osmond and Stephen Coates)