Ecuador has re-elected Daniel Noboa as president, marking a significant moment in the country’s political landscape. Noboa, a conservative millionaire known for his aggressive stance on gang crime, won the election with 55.8% of the vote, according to the National Electoral Council. His opponent, Luisa Gonzalez, a leftist lawyer, received 44% and has expressed intentions to contest the results, claiming electoral fraud.
The election results came after a tense campaign period, with more than 90% of ballots counted. International observers from the European Union and the Organization of American States monitored the vote, but their official reports had not been released at the time of the announcement. Diana Atamaint, president of the electoral council, stated that the results showed an "irreversible trend" in favor of Noboa.
Noboa’s victory gives him four years to implement the promises he made during his previous term, which began in 2023 when he won a snap election. Despite his limited political experience, he has focused heavily on crime reduction strategies, appealing to voters concerned about rising violence linked to drug cartels. Ecuador has seen an influx of powerful Mexican drug cartels, like Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation, making the country’s ports attractive for drug trafficking.
In January 2024, Noboa declared a state of "internal armed conflict" in Ecuador, allowing him to deploy thousands of soldiers to combat gangs. This crackdown has led to numerous raids and arrests, but it has also raised concerns about human rights violations, including reports of extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests.
Despite the challenges, Noboa’s policies have resulted in a drop in the homicide rate, from 46.18 per 100,000 people in 2023 to 38.76 in 2024. However, this rate remains significantly higher than the 6.85 per 100,000 recorded in 2019. Voters are increasingly worried about the violence that has surged since 2021, and both candidates in the election promised tough measures to address crime.
The election saw over 13 million eligible voters, with participation being mandatory in Ecuador. Noboa’s win marks the third consecutive defeat for Gonzalez’s party, linked to former president Rafael Correa. After the results, Gonzalez stated that her campaign does not recognize the electoral outcome, arguing that pre-election polls had shown her leading.
As Noboa begins his new term, he faces the daunting task of balancing crime-fighting measures with the need to respect human rights and restore public trust in the government. The coming years will be crucial for Ecuador as it navigates these complex issues.