Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has secured a decisive reelection victory, with official results showing him ahead by 12 points over rival Luisa Gonzalez.
With over 90% of ballots counted, the National Election Council reported Noboa had 56% of the vote compared to Gonzalez’s 44%. The margin came as a surprise after both candidates were nearly tied in the first round.
In a speech from his hometown of Olon, the 37-year-old president called the result a “historic victory,” thanking supporters and pledging to get to work immediately. “Ecuadorians have spoken,” Noboa said. “From tomorrow, we go back to work.”
Gonzalez, aiming to become Ecuador’s first female president, rejected the outcome, alleging “grotesque electoral fraud” without providing evidence. She demanded a recount.
Security and the economy were at the heart of the campaign. Noboa, heir to a banana fortune, has taken a hardline stance on crime, deploying military forces, cracking down on drug cartels, and collaborating with U.S. special forces. Just before the election, he declared a 60-day state of emergency in Quito and several provinces.
Violence in Ecuador has surged in recent years, with the country averaging one killing per hour as cartels battle for control of drug routes. This instability has scared off investors and deepened poverty, which now affects 28% of the population.
Despite concerns, Noboa’s supporters expressed hope that his security policies would bring change. “These next four years, I hope everything goes well,” said Natalie Ulloa, 26.
Analysts say Gonzalez’s ties to exiled former President Rafael Correa may have weakened her campaign. Correa, living in Belgium to avoid a corruption sentence, remains a polarizing figure in Ecuadorian politics.
AFP
