QUITO, ECUADOR – In an atmosphere of celebration and caution, the people of Ecuador marked a historic moment on Sunday as 35-year-old banana empire heir, Daniel Noboa, was declared the country’s youngest president-elect ever. With 90 percent of the votes counted, the electoral authority officially announced Noboa’s victory, solidifying his position as Ecuador’s new leader.
Notably, this election took place in a country that has been marred by violence, a bloody drug war, and political assassinations, which abruptly ended the campaign of a popular candidate. Despite the challenges, the election proceeded smoothly with no reports of violence.
Approximately 100,000 police and soldiers were deployed to ensure the safety of the voting process. Both Daniel Noboa and his socialist rival, Luisa Gonzalez, cast their votes while wearing bulletproof vests, just weeks after a rival candidate was tragically murdered. Both candidates had prioritized addressing the escalating violence in their campaigns.
Gonzalez gracefully conceded defeat and offered her “profound congratulations” to Noboa, acknowledging the principles of democracy. She also stated that she would not be claiming fraud in the election.
The main concerns of Ecuadorians, as indicated by recent polls, were related to crime and violence. The country has experienced a significant increase in the murder rate over the past four years, quadrupling by 2022.
Ecuador, which was once considered a peaceful refuge between major cocaine-exporting nations, Colombia and Peru, has witnessed a surge in violence as rival gangs with connections to Mexican and Colombian cartels vie for control. The violence has resulted in mass prison massacres, public displays of brutality, and bombings near police stations.
The political landscape also saw the tragic assassination of anti-graft and anti-cartel journalist and presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in August. He had been polling as the second most popular candidate. His murder prompted a state of emergency declaration.
The newly elected President, Daniel Noboa, is set to serve only 16 months in office, completing the term of the incumbent, Guillermo Lasso, who called for a snap election to avert possible impeachment for alleged embezzlement. Notably, Noboa has the potential to run for the presidency in the 2025-29 term and beyond.
Ecuador faces significant challenges, including a 27 percent poverty rate and high unemployment. Unemployment was listed as the second most significant concern among voters, with Noboa promising to prioritize job creation.
Luisa Gonzalez, the handpicked candidate of socialist ex-president Rafael Correa, led the first round of voting in August with 34 percent, followed by Noboa with 23 percent. However, Noboa is expected to face challenges in advancing his legislative agenda, given that he lacks an absolute majority in the legislature and has a relatively short time in office.
Voting was compulsory for Ecuador’s 13.4 million eligible voters in a country with a population of 16.9 million. Concerns about potential irregularities arose as social media circulated images of a person seemingly filling out multiple ballots in favor of Noboa. The head of the National Electoral Commission, Diana Atamaint, promised an “immediate” investigation into the matter.