Voters in Ecuador went to the polls on Sunday to decide whether Daniel Noboa, president of the right center, would receive another term after 15 months in power.
His predecessor, Guillermo Lasso, called for the early elections in 2023, while confronted with imperial procedures for charges of embezzlement. G. Noboa, 37, Harvard Kennedy School School, graduated from one of the richest Ecuador families, unexpectedly stood up at the polls to win the election and serve the rest of Mr. Lass’s term.
It is a direction that will have a problematic nation of almost 18 million because it struggles with drug violence and great unemployment, questions that have sent tens of thousands of Ecuadols to the United States.
Why are these elections important?
Five years ago, Mr. Noboa was politically unknown. He was elected to the legislative body of the country in 2021 and served one term.
During the 2023 elections to replace Mr. Lass, he stood up from the bottom of the polling station in the first round of voting to score second after a strong discussion. He then defeated a candidate for the leftist institution, Luis González, in the second round.
Mrs. González is running again and represents the party of powerful former President Rafael Corre, a polarizing figure in Ecuador. Many voters express nostalgia for low violence and strong economy that characterized his Presidency, while others remember his authoritarian style and his Conviction of corruption charges.
For years, Mr. Corre’s leftist movement has defined Ecuadoric politics, but some analysts say that if Mr. Noboa wins, he has the potential to create his own movement.
Mr. Noboa’s party, which was formed less than a year ago, is foreseen on surveys to win a third of the place in the legislative body – just like the party of Mr. Corre.
Who are the best candidates?
Mr. Noboa was first chosen on the back of a desperate desire to change after an explosion of uncertainty in Ecuador and a particularly bloody election cycle 2023, including the assassination of another presidential candidate.
Although violence, along with unemployment, remained high, leaned against a skilled strategy of social media to project a picture of young and energy that enchanted many of his voters.
In an effort to suffocate the exacerbation of violence and the outbreak of prison riots, Mr. Noboa imposed a state of internal armed conflict last year, allowing the military to patrol the streets and prisons.
He also sent the police to the Mexican embassy in the capital of Quito, to arrest politicians seeking a refuge from a prison sentence for corruption, in what was considered a brave violation of the diplomatic protocol. Some analysts considered the moves overwhelmed by the presidential authorities and threat of civil freedom.
But his supporters see him as a brave leader who is willing to break the rules and endure corrupt forces. In April, the Ecuadorecs supported their hard approach when approved by a referendum that covered an increased military presence in the law.
“It has to be firm in order for people to respect him,” said Jessica Navarro, 34, a taxi driver in Quit.
Mrs. González, a political opponent, was defined by her relationship to Mr. Corre, who adhered to her to represent his party.
“When Rafael Corre was there, he really supported us a lot,” said Edgar Escobar, 28, a nursing student who supports Mrs. González. “I would like to go back to that country we had before.”
But Ledy Zúñig, a former Justice Minister who ran for a national assembly with Mrs. González’s party, pushed himself against the idea that she represented the past.
“It’s not about going back to the past,” she said. “Eight years later, people blamed the things that happen to a government that is no longer here. More than returning to the past, the question is to have a team with experience and technical knowledge, because the public administration is not easy.”
What are the main questions?
Ecuador faces lasting violence, chronic unemployment and energy crisis. January Saw more violent deaths than any month in the last three years, according to police data.
Last year, droughts in a country that depends largely on hydroelectric energy caused a daily reduction in strength of 14 hours for about three months. The crisis threatened with water, mobile and online services, closed companies and threatened the entire industry.
Over the past five years, the drug trade industry has spread to Ecuador, attracting international criminal groups and releasing outstanding levels of violence in the once unusual nation.
But Mr. Noboa’s campaign is generally more defined by image – the country is overwhelmed by cardboard cuts – and less special proposals for the policy to resolve the challenge of his country.
Mr. Noboa often vaguely speaks of throwing an “old Ecuador” in the trash.
Mrs. González emphasized the resolution of the security crisis by strengthening Ecuador institutions like Justice, Health and Education Systems.
When will the results be known?
Ecuadoric presidential elections usually have two rounds of voting, and two main candidates in the first round turned in the second round. In order to win the first round, the candidate must receive more than 50 percent of the vote or 40 percent of the vote with a margin of 10 points over the nearest rival.
Polling stations He showed Mr. Nobo in the lead ahead of the election on Sunday, with the ability to win enough votes to avoid running away.
The voting started at 7am on Sunday and ended at 5 pm, it was expected that the results would start to arrive at about 6pm
