From May 1 to 3, 2025, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung received distinguished visitors in Ecuador. As part of a dialogue program co-organized by the KAS in the Andean country, the President of the Federal Constitutional Court, Prof. Dr. Stefan Harbarth, and its Vice President, Prof. Dr. Doris König, learned about Ecuador’s challenges and efforts in the fight for the rule of law and democracy.
The central component of the program was a bilateral exchange between the German constitutional judges and the judges of the Ecuadorian Constitutional Court. Held in a confidential setting, the dialogue took place in the context of potential future constitutional reforms in the country. Key topics of the consultations included strengthening bilateral cooperation, identifying areas for future alliances, consolidating democratic institutions, and the shared interest in an independent and effective judiciary.
Just over two weeks after the resounding re-election of President Daniel Noboa on April 13, Harbarth and König participated in a dinner hosted by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, bringing together high-ranking representatives from politics and the judiciary as well as selected KAS partners to discuss the current political situation in both Ecuador and Germany. Among the participants were the President of the National Court of Justice, Dr. Jose Suing Nagua, former President of Ecuador, Dr. Rosalía Arteaga, Vice President of the Ecuadorian Constitutional Court, Dr. Karla Andrade, and the Apostolic Nuncio, Mons. Andrés Carrascosa. The conversation also addressed sensitive topics such as the threat to the rule of law posed by organized crime and drug trafficking. The unanimous message from the hosts was clear: Ecuador and its re-elected government are in urgent need of international support.
A highlight of the visit was a well-attended public lecture by Prof. Harbarth at the renowned Universidad San Francisco in Quito, jointly organized by the KAS Rule of Law Programme Latin America and KAS Ecuador, on the topic “Challenges to Liberal Democracy and the Rule of Law.” Held shortly before the inauguration of the new German government, the subsequent discussion focused in particular on the experiences of Germany’s concept of a “militant democracy,” which was of great interest to the Ecuadorian hosts.
The visit of the high-ranking legal delegation from Germany concluded with a political briefing at the KAS office in Quito. The delegation then continued its journey to the Dominican Republic, where the 29th "World Law Congress" is taking place from May 4 to 6 with the participation of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.
Cooperation with Latin American constitutional courts is a key pillar of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s work in the region. This year, the Rule of Law Programme Latin America is organizing the “Meeting of Latin American Constitutional Courts and Chambers” for the 30th time. The event will take place in the Brazilian capital Brasília from October 22 to 24 and will bring together representatives from the constitutional courts of all democratic states in Latin America.