Parliamentary and presidential elections will be held in Ecuador today. In addition to the head of state, the country's citizens will also have to elect 151 deputies to the National Assembly.
Less than two years have passed since the last presidential election in Ecuador. Then, early elections were held, called by the then head of state Guillermo Lasso in order to dissolve parliament.
The winner of these elections, 37-year-old Daniel Noboa, the son of one of the richest businessmen in the country, has again put forward his candidacy. In addition to him, 16 other politicians are fighting for the highest state post. Noboa's main rival is former National Assembly member Luisa González, who held various positions in the government of former President Rafael Correa (who was head of state from 2007 to 2017). According to a poll published by Ipsos, 45.5% are ready to vote for Noboa, while 31.3% are ready to vote for González.
As in 2023, when Noboa was elected, crime remains one of the main problems in Ecuador. In January 2024, the head of state signed a decree recognizing the existence of an internal armed conflict in the country and ordered the neutralization of 22 criminal groups. According to official data, the number of murders per 100 thousand inhabitants decreased from 46.18 to 38.76 during the year (in 2020, this indicator was 7.8). Other pressing issues Ecuadorians cite include unemployment, poverty, and an energy crisis that has caused months of power outages in the country.
Before the election, Noboa was criticized for possible violations of electoral laws. He did not resign to campaign, even though Ecuadorian law does not allow the combination of public office and campaigning. Instead, Noboa handed over the powers of head of state to Vice President Cynthia Helibert for three days to participate in campaign events.
In January 2024 Noboa announced that Ecuador would transfer Russian and Ukrainian equipment to the United States in exchange for new equipment worth a total of $200 million, but after Moscow expressed its dissatisfaction and Washington confirmed that it would send equipment to Ukraine, the Ecuadorian authorities abandoned their plans.
Luiza González, 47, who is running for the left-wing Alliance of the Civil Revolution, accuses Noboa of governing the country in an authoritarian manner and is a supporter of the resumption of Correa's political course. To curb the increase in crime, González proposes policies aimed at eradicating the causes of the increase in crime (poverty and inequality) and restoring the work of the Ministry of Justice.
She promises to focus on the development of renewable energy sources, restoring state control over hydroelectric plants, and diversifying the economy. Currently, almost 30% of the country's exports come from oil.
According to polls, none of the remaining 14 candidates can count on more than 6% of the vote.
To win, a candidate for the highest state office must receive an absolute majority of the votes, or at least 40%, but provided that they are separated by at least 10% of the votes from their closest rival. If none of the candidates for the highest state office secures the necessary support on February 9, the country will hold a second round on April 13.
Voting in Ecuador is mandatory for people between the ages of 18 and 65. About 13.5 million people are eligible to vote.