Ecuador: Fear and self-censorship erode free expression, democracy

An opinion piece in Expreso argues that fear and self-censorship are undermining freedom of expression in Ecuador, a trend that consolidates power and weakens democratic institutions. The claim is asserted without specific incidents or corroborating evidence, making it an emerging narrative rather than a documented event. It matters as a signal of democratic backsliding in a country already under strain from security and political crises.