Participación ciudadana y representación política en la Asamblea Nacional del Ecuador: Una realidad desde la perspectiva de la provincia de Loja

Abstract

Abstract: This research analyzes citizen participation and political representation as a fundamental part of strengthening democracy, especially within the legislative function. Thus, the 2008 Constitution recognizes citizen participation as a fundamental right, delegating it to the National Assembly as the body of popular representation. However, in the province of Loja, a significant gap is evident between the legal framework and reality. The objective is to evaluate the relationship and impact of citizen participation on political representation within the National Assembly in the province of Loja during the year 2025. A mixed methodology was employed, ranging from a documentary analysis to the application of a structured survey in the urban areas of the various cantons of the province of Loja. The results show that there is significant recognition of normative participation; however, there is a limited impact on legislative processes. In short, restrictions are detected in the mechanisms of interaction between representatives and the people.