Ecuador Presidential Election Run-off
Hard-right incumbent President Daniel Noboa and left-wing challenger Luisa Gonzalez are set for a second-round run-off in Ecuador’s presidential election, with preliminary results showing them neck and neck. With 80 percent of the ballots tallied, Noboa had 44.4 percent and Gonzalez had 44.1 percent, surprising many with her strong performance. Gonzalez, a protege of former President Rafael Correa, declared the race a “statistical tie” and celebrated what she called a “great victory” with her supporters in Quito.
Noboa, the son of a billionaire banana magnate, had hoped to avoid a runoff by securing 50 percent of the votes but fell short. Still, his supporters were jubilant, hoping for his continued leadership to bring about positive change in the country. The election was seen as a referendum on the state of the economy and Noboa’s tough stance on crime, which included declaring a state of emergency and deploying the army to combat violence driven by drug cartels. However, his aggressive actions were met with criticism from human rights groups, who accused the armed forces of abuse.
Noboa’s presidency has also been marked by conflicts with his vice president, culminating in a recent ruling by the Constitutional Court invalidating decrees he used to take campaign leave. This could complicate his ability to campaign effectively in the run-off. The stage is now set for a closely contested election that will determine the future direction of Ecuador, with Gonzalez challenging Noboa’s hardline policies and promising change.
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