Ecuador’s Presidential Election Heads to Runoff After Tight First Round

Incumbent President Daniel Noboa and leftist challenger Luisa González will face off on April 13 following an unexpectedly close vote focused on crime and economic challenges.

Preliminary results show Daniel Noboa with 44.4% of the vote and Luisa González with 44.1%, falling short of the thresholds needed for an outright victory.
The runoff will revisit the 2023 contest between the two candidates, with Noboa campaigning on his iron-fist approach to crime and González advocating for social justice and economic reforms.
Noboa’s presidency has been marked by military crackdowns on gang violence, which have drawn both praise for reducing homicides and criticism for alleged human rights abuses.
González, a protégé of former President Rafael Correa, has pledged to address crime while increasing social spending and reforming Ecuador’s justice system.
The election highlights Ecuador’s ongoing struggles with cartel-driven violence, a faltering economy, and public dissatisfaction with energy crises and rising inequality.