‘Clear signs of authoritarianism’: Ecuador’s ‘iron fist’ leader seeks re-election
GuardianFEB 8
Ecuador: Noboa and González Set for Runoff Rematch
Above: The Ecuadorian national flag displayed at a polling station during the general election in Quito, Ecuador, on Feb. 9, 2025. Image copyright: Andres Yepez/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Facts
Ecuador's conservative incumbent Daniel Noboa and his leftist rival Luisa González will face off in an April 13 runoff election to determine the next president. The vote will be a rematch of the 2023 race, as each candidate received about 44% of the vote in the first round.
This comes as voters headed to the polls on Sunday to elect their president and select all 151 members of the country's National Assembly. To win in the first round, a presidential candidate requires 50% of the vote, or at least 40% with a 10-point lead over its closest opponent.
Ecuador's land borders, which were closed on Saturday as part of heightened security measures in response to alleged attempts by armed groups to destabilize the country, will remain closed on Monday.
The Spin
Right narrative
Freedom is on the ballot in resource-rich Ecuador as there are only two routes for voters to choose — free market capitalism under Daniel Noboa or a narco-socialist dictatorship under Correa's surrogate Luisa González. Noboa needs a full presidential term to fight the Ecuadorian deep state and bring significant changes to the country.
Left narrative
After nearly a decade following neoliberal prescriptions, Ecuador now has a fragile state and an impoverished people. It's no wonder that drug trafficking and organized crime have skyrocketed — that's part of the local elites' strategy to control society. Noboa must be voted out of office.