Ecuador is on the brink of a historic presidential runoff between conservative president Daniel Noboa and leftist former congresswoman Luisa González. The election, which will take place on April 13, comes after a first-round performance by Noboa that was better than expected.
With over 92% of ballot boxes counted, Noboa leads with 44.31%, just ahead of González, who has a difference of only 45,000 votes in an electorate of 13.7 million registered voters. The winner will need to secure more than 50% of the votes or exceed a 40% share to claim victory.
Noboa’s presidency has been marked by controversy, including his “mano dura” security policy, which has been widely criticized for its human rights violations. His approach has been seen as ineffective in reducing violence, and other crimes such as abductions and kidnappings have continued to rise.
González, a 47-year-old lawyer, has celebrated the left’s victory by forcing a “statistical tie” in the election. She called on supporters saying that Noboa represents fear while she represents hope for change in the country.
The presidential election is seen as an assessment of Noboa’s brief time in office, which began after his unexpected win in 2023. His party won seats in Congress, but neither he nor González will have a majority. Noboa celebrated this win and thanked voters, while also thanking supporters for their courage to believe again that the country can be different.
This weekend’s election day passed without significant incidents, with several international observers monitoring the vote. Turnout was 83.4%, with mandatory voting required for citizens aged 18 to 65. Noboa and González were shadowed by special forces at public events in an attempt to prevent a repeat of the 2023 election, where a leading candidate was assassinated.
The election highlights the polarisation between Correísmo, named after former leftist president Rafael Correa, who governed from 2007 to 2017 and backs González’s candidacy, and the anti-Correísmo camp, in which Noboa is the leading figure.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/10/ecuador-presidential-election-runoff-daniel-noboa-luisa-gonzalez