In a scenario marked by criminal violence and the call to stop it, Ecuadorians go to the polls today to decide the future of the country unusual runoff election for the presidency. The controversial candidates are Luisa Gonzlez, representative of the Corresta movement, and Daniel Noboa, a center-left candidate with the support of right-wing forces. Election day takes place in a tense atmosphere recent murder of a candidate and a wave of violence that has rocked the country.
Gonzlez, who is supported by the Citizen Revolution (RC) and is linked to the former socialist president Rafael Correa, expressed his hope as he voted at a polling station in Canuto, on the country’s southwest coast. “The pulpit is for the victory of Ecuador, that is, for the victory of the citizen revolution,” declared the candidate.
Ecuador experienced an increase in the activities of drug cartels with international connections, plunging the country into crisis Terror regime that cost the lives of thousands of peopleincluding cases of extreme violence such as dismemberments and hanging bodies from bridges.
Daniel NoboaThe 35-year-old aspires to be that youngest president in Ecuador’s history. It receives support from right-wing forces and describes itself as a center-left party. In contrast, Luisa González, 45, strives for it the first woman to become president of Ecuador by popular vote.
A total of 13.4 million Ecuadorians are eligible to exercise their compulsory vote from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with closure scheduled for 7 p.m. in Argentina. The polls expected a close contest.
Diana Atamaint, President of the National Electoral Council (CNE), has officially opened the second round of presidential elections in Ecuador. The security of the elections will be ensured by the presence of around 100,000 military and police officers stationed throughout the country.
The winner of this election will rule Ecuador for approximately 17 months.which marked the high point of the right’s presidential term Guillermo Lassowho dissolved Congress and called for early elections to prevent his dismissal Political trial for corruption. This new mandate is expected to serve as a sort of pre-campaign for the quadrennial presidential election in 2025, which will determine the country’s course in the short term.
In addition to the institutional crisis, Ecuador is facing one Climate of political violence and an environment of economic skepticism. The country uses the US dollar as its official currency and has a poverty rate of 27%. Eight political leaders, including a mayor, two city councilors, a congressional candidate and a presidential candidate, attended murdered in the middle of the election campaign.
Luisa Gonzlez and Daniel Noboa are committed to fighting crime and drug trafficking gangs as the murder rate has quadrupled in recent years 26 murders per 100,000 inhabitants. Because of the violence unleashed, candidates and journalists were forced to travel protected with vests, helmets and armored vehicles.
As part of the proposals are Daniel Noboa It aims to stimulate the economy and employment by providing credit opportunities and tax incentives for small and medium-sized businesses. One of the most notable proposals is the creation of Prison ships to isolate non-violent prisoners and cut their ties to criminal networks.
Luisa González, for her part, represents the continuity of the political influence of Rafael Correa, who lives in exile and is convicted of corruption. Despite maintaining his independence, Correa remains an influential figure in Ecuadorian politics from Belgium. González proposes a more supportive state after a series of right-wing governments that followed his mentor.
In the first round, Noboa received 23% of the vote, while Gonzlez was in the lead with 34%. Both candidates will face difficulties in Congress do not have an absolute majoritywhich could complicate the implementation of its reforms at a critical time for the country.