Ecuador’s leftist presidential candidate Luisa Gonzalez on the left and Ecuador’s president and presidential candidate Daniel Noboa on the appropriate.
ARMANDO PRADOMARCOS PIN/AFP
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ARMANDO PRADOMARCOS PIN/AFP
GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador — Sunday’s presidential election in Ecuador is one of many closest and most decisive in recent times. It comes as drug gang violence hits file ranges, with Ecuador now experiencing one of many highest murder charges in Latin America. On the similar time the economic system has stalled leaving few assets to fight the rising crime.
As soon as probably the most peaceable international locations within the area, Ecuador has turn out to be a serious transportation hub for cocaine trafficking to the U.S. and Europe.
Sunday’s vote is a repeat of the 2023 race between Daniel Noboa, now the president, and former lawmaker and lawyer Luisa González. Two years later, this contest has turn out to be a lot tighter. In the course of the first spherical final February, each candidates gained about 44 % of the vote.
Whereas the competition is shaping up as a battle between a right-wing, pro-business incumbent versus a left-wing populist, the primary challenge on voter’s minds is combating the narco-fueled violence that has overtaken the nation.
Incumbent Noboa, a millionaire and Trump ally
Quickly after taking workplace in 2023, President Noboa declared drug trafficking gangs “terrorists”, imposing a state of emergency because of the “internal armed conflict” going through his nation. He is relied closely on the navy and has arrested hundreds.
Though he is the son of one among Ecuador’s richest banana magnates, the 37-year previous portrays himself as a political outsider and shuns labels. He is married to a wholesome way of life youtuber and his social media campaigns showcase his physique in outfits extra typical for a private coach than a president. Life-size cutouts of him are ubiquitous all through the nation.
His marketing campaign speeches are fast and quick on element and through a latest presidential debate, he struggled to articulate his anti-crime plan. However supporters insist he is your best option to halt the violence. He has overtly solicited the assistance of overseas governments within the struggle in opposition to the drug gangs and has personally lobbied shut ally President Trump to intervene within the struggle in opposition to drug traffickers.
Supporters of incumbent presidential candidate Daniel Noboa cheer him on throughout a marketing campaign rally in Quito, Ecuador, Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
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Carlos Noriega/AP
Leftist challenger Luisa González, protégé of former populist president residing in exile
The 47-year-old former lawmaker has a slight lead going into Sunday’s race. Her new discovered edge is attributed to the sharp rise within the variety of homicides within the nation — greater than 700 in each January and February this yr, in accordance with the Inside Ministry. That is the very best quantity skilled since official figures have been saved.
However González is intently tied to former populist firebrand Rafael Correa, who ran Ecuador for 10 years. Correa self-exiled to Europe after being convicted of corruption at residence, however nonetheless enjoys a loyal following. That offers González a powerful base however opens her to a lot criticism. Noboa warns her presidency would ship Ecuador right into a communist spiral, akin to neighboring Venezuela and Nicaragua.
González denies the claims and says though she needs extra social spending to assist the poor and marginalized communities experiencing a lot of the violence, she’s going to maintain the navy on the forefront of combating crime gangs. She’s referred to as for extra know-how and coordination alongside Ecuador’s combative shoreline and ports.
Luisa Gonzalez, presidential candidate for the Citizen Revolution Motion, campaigns in Quito, Ecuador, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025
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Dolores Ochoa/AP
Are there the assets to struggle rising crime in Ecuador?
The quick reply is not any. The economic system has stalled with its GDP falling in every of the final three quarters and Ecuador’s financial development this yr is anticipated to be near the underside in comparison with different Latin American international locations.
Ecuador’s rampant violence with the rise of prison narco gangs is on the forefront of voter’s minds. Whereas Noboa initially obtained excessive reward for his arduous line strikes in opposition to worldwide and native trafficking teams, his insurance policies have faltered of late.
He is made frequent journeys to Washington — the place he was one among a choose handful of world leaders on the inauguration — and most not too long ago Mar-a-Lago, to make a private plea to President Trump, a detailed ally, to place U.S. troops alongside Ecuador’s coast. He even signed a safety settlement with Erik Prince, founding father of the disgraced former U.S. protection contractor Blackwater and posted footage of the 2 collectively on social media.
González accuses Noboa of bringing “mercenaries” to Ecuador and shuns any overseas involvement which she says is a menace to the nation’s sovereignty. Her political mentor, Rafael Correa closed a U.S. military facility within the north of Ecuador when he was president.
Troopers stand guard throughout an operation within the neighborhood the place at the least 22 individuals had been killed on the eve in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on March 7, 2025.
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In a race too near name, when will we all know the outcomes?
After almost a decade of interim governments and interrupted presidential phrases, this might be the primary time in years that the incoming president might have a majority within the Nationwide Meeting. In final February’s election the newly expanded 151-seat Nationwide Meeting was cut up fairly evenly between Noboa’s and González’s events.
A number of small non-aligned events captured the remainder of the seats and will likely be simply swayed to provide the presidential contest winner a working majority, stated Sebastian Hurtado, a political threat marketing consultant based mostly in Quito. “That is key for making any progress on security or on the economy. I see political stability in good faith going forward and this is good news,” he instructed NPR.
The polls shut at 5 pm native time (6 pm EST). Election watchers say with the race so shut outcomes might take hours and will not be launched till the early hours on Monday.
