Violence and insecurity plague them Ecuador. The Record murder rate in 2022 with 25.3 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants is expected to be largely exceeded by the end of 2023. For the left and for the right, e.g Correista candidate Luisa González and for his opponent the rising liberal Daniel NoboaThe measures to combat drug trafficking and organized crime give words to their political speeches, content to party events, topics to interviews and debates like the one that took place on television for two hours on the first Sunday in October.
Both campaigns are convinced that they are doing it right the most pleasant promise on the subject of security is the Notice to win the majority 13 million people that make it happen census The A vote will be held on October 15th to decide which rival will complete Guillermo Lasso’s mandate. The current center-right president dissolved Congress and called early elections, overwhelmed and powerless in the face of social and indigenous protest, overcrowded and riotous prisons and the unstoppable increase in murder and criminal contract killings.
Lengthy debate about armored security forces and monotonous horror of unleashed crime
According to the calendar, it officially began at the end of September National Electoral Council (CKD)the election campaign period Ecuadorbefore the crucial second round of the next presidential election 15th October. This runoff election will be held between the left Luisa Gonzálezcandidate from Civil Revolution Movement (RC), led by the former president Rafael Correaand the conservative Daniel Noboafrom the alliance National Democratic Action (DNA)consisting of the movements People, Equality and Democracy (PID)from Arturo MorenoCousin of the former president Lenin MorenoAnd Move, the former PAIS Alliance. Both CandidatesThe They have introduced the use of bulletproof vests and even helmets as security measures. are faced with the challenge of reconfirming the votes received in the past 20th of August and win the votes distributed among the six losing candidates in the first round González received 33.61% and Noboa 23.47%.
One of them will succeed the current President of the Republic, the former center-right banker Guillermo Lassowho invoked the constitutional mechanism called “crossed death” last May, just as the Assembly He was preparing to vote on a motion of no confidence against him over alleged embezzlement of public funds as part of a political process. lasso dissolved the unicameral assembly; but halved his mandate. Whoever emerges victorious in the runoff vote ends the president’s term in office 2021-2025.
Two rivals want to win the presidency of the most violent country in the Andes in a runoff election
The campaign that will last until the ban 12th of Octoberis taking place in a nation facing little to no effectiveness Crime, whether organized or notwhose permanent virulence has made it one central issue for voters and the two candidates wearing bulletproof vests. The murders in Ecuador were shot 5.8 per 100,000 people in 2018 To 18.89 per 100,000 this year.
The critical situation, what led to this to order the authorities temporary states of emergency, This is one of the reasons that explains it Increase in migration To USA. With or without reflection, it is difficult or even impossible not to make comparisons the so-called “won decade”. Any comparison on this topic and issue largely favors the years that correspond to those of the President. Rafael Correa in power. Not only the ten Correísta years are assimilated (2007-2017) with higher consumption levels and confidence in the progress of an economy focused on dollars since the year 2000. It also coincides with a time of great public safety. During this decade, longed for by a good third of the Ecuadorian population, Ecuador had become the second safest country America according to the murder rate. Today it is the most violent in the Andes and the country where most drugs are smuggled Peaceful. More specifically, experts attribute the cause of the increase in crime to international cartels that have created port cities Ecuador a major hub for the transport of illegal products and local gangs linked to these cartels.
The lawyer, economist and activist Gonzalez45 years old, political heir to the former president and also an economist Beltpromise who are restructuring Ministry of Interior. The aim is to improve police investigation procedures, reduce impunity and combat poverty and lack of opportunity as causes of gang membership. Son of the businessman magnate Álvaro Noboa, five times unsuccessful presidential candidate Noboafrom 35 yearsThat assured, a new protagonist on the national political stage will invest in police equipmentwill create an important cybersecurity program and strengthen the justice system to prevent prisons from being raided.
There is no bulletproof vest that is sufficient if they want to kill us thoroughly.
Without stooping to the brazen detail of looking for sufficiently acceptable evidence when they feel that their own lives are in serious danger, both González and his younger opponent Noboa have stated these days that during this phase of the During the election campaign before the second presidential round on October 15th, they were once again possible targets of violence and selective assassinations. “That’s why I was forced to wear this bulletproof vest,” she said. Gonzalez at a campaign event in early September. She did it without joy, but with resignation: “Before, I was never willing to wear the vest because I believe that everyone should have access to the same security measures in the country.”
The candidate’s care is not new. In the first round, the images of the extraordinary elections will be shown by Ecuador They demonstrated the critical situation of insecurity ravaging the country. Citizens are forced to open their wallets or backpacks when entering the voting precinct; The candidates voted protected with bulletproof vests and helmets as well as extensive military and police deployment. The highest level of protection was recorded at Christian ZuritaSuccessor to the presidential candidate Fernando Villavicenciomurdered the past August 9th when leaving a missionary rally behind Quito.
The event had shocked the country, which did not I have recovered from the loss Agustin Intriago, Mayor of Ceiling, one of the most important ports in the country. Previously, Javier PincayCandidate for mayor of Portoviejo And Luis Chonillo, mayor Duran survived attacks
With all 82% of the more than 13 million Ecuadorian men and women With the opportunity to vote, they voted in the first round. This shows that intimidation will not be the winner on election day. At least that’s what Máximo Zaldívar, regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), claims.
Conditions