Daniel Noboa Wins Ecuador Election with 12-Point Lead

Photo: Reuters

Daniel Noboa, the current President of Ecuador, has won a big victory in the presidential election held on Sunday. The 37-year-old leader, who has promised to fight crime with strong actions, received a lot of support from the people.

With over 90% of the votes counted, Ecuador’s National Election Council announced that Noboa was ahead of his rival, Luisa Gonzalez, by 12 points. Noboa got 56% of the vote, while Gonzalez had 44%. This was a much larger gap than expected, especially since both candidates were nearly tied in the first round of voting.

Noboa celebrated the win in his hometown of Olon. Speaking to his happy supporters, he said, “A big hug to all Ecuadorians who believed in this young president! Ecuadorians have spoken. From tomorrow, we start working.”

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Luisa Gonzalez, who had hoped to become Ecuador’s first woman president, was surprised by her loss. She said there had been “the most grotesque electoral fraud” and demanded a recount. However, she did not give any proof of cheating.

A Country Facing Big Problems

During the election campaign, people were mostly worried about two things — the poor economy and rising violence. In recent years, Ecuador has become one of the most dangerous countries in Latin America, even though it was once one of the safest.

Noboa is the son of a wealthy banana businessman. He plays guitar and is known for his strong views on security. As president, he has sent the military into the streets, arrested drug leaders, and even asked the United States to send special forces to help.

Just one day before the voting, Noboa declared a 60-day state of emergency in the capital city, Quito, and in several other areas. This showed how serious the security situation has become.

Earlier this year, Ecuador saw almost one killing every hour, as gangs fought over drug routes that run through the country. This violence has scared off tourists and investors, made the economy worse, and pushed more people into poverty — now about 28% of the population.

In Quito, the capital surrounded by volcanoes, many voters still came out to vote in the cold weather. Camila Medina, a 21-year-old student, said, “I think Ecuador is divided. But I also think we all know that we must come together, no matter who is president.”

More than 13.7 million Ecuadorians were required to vote in the election.

What’s Next for Ecuador?

Now that he has won, Noboa is expected to continue his strict security policies. Some believe he will also grow closer to former US President Donald Trump, with whom he seems to share similar ideas.

One of his supporters, 26-year-old Natalie Ulloa, said, “I hope the next four years go well. I hope he can finally do all the things he promised.”

Experts believe that Luisa Gonzalez’s close connection to former President Rafael Correa may have hurt her chances. Correa now lives in Belgium to avoid a jail sentence for corruption. He says the charges were political, but many people in Ecuador either strongly support him or strongly dislike him.

Ruth Hidalgo, a political expert, said, “There are a lot of people who don’t like Correa. Gonzalez couldn’t win them over. Her team couldn’t convince enough people or connect with voters. That’s why they lost.”