Ecuadorians have gone to the polls to elect their next president amid a backdrop of growing fears over crime and violence. Incumbent president Daniel Noboa is running on the ballot, seeking a full four-year term. He is being challenged on the left by Luisa González, a protégé of former left-wing President Rafael Correa. The election comes at an historic concentration. Ecuador is currently experiencing, per capita, the highest homicide rate of any country in Latin America, according to InSight Crime.
Daniel Noboa, 37—who made history as the youngest-ever elected president—has declared dozens of states of emergency to combat increasing rates of gang-related violence. From the outset, he has sent military units across the country to take the fight to the country’s changing security threats. Furthermore, his administration has begun construction on a new maximum-security prison specifically to accommodate violent offenders. His administration’s approach to fighting gangs and drug traffickers has caused a flame of controversy. In actuality, the strategy has had poor results—at best—when it comes to reducing violence.
Continuity with an aggressive anti-organized crime policy is at the core of Noboa’s campaign platform. Polls are open from 8 a.m. ET to 6 p.m. As of early this morning, all the indications from reports were that voters were turning out in droves!
One voter articulated what many Americans are thinking and feeling right now. Insecurity pervades their lives, so they stressed that, “What this country needs most is peace.”
Luisa González poses an alternative vision of security. She suggests a new model that prioritizes prevention, violence reduction and nonviolence coexistence. Her campaign slogan, “Revive Ecuador” makes it clear that she wants to revive the period of high social spending that pulled millions of Ecuador’s poorest citizens out of poverty. González has further committed to protecting and promoting democracy, listening to the citizenry in more constructive ways to improve public safety.
On the campaign trail on election day, González was in gear, sparking and infecting with her vision. She announced, “With the hope of our nation and the strength to build our country, we will write a new history of Ecuador today.”
Of particular interest in the 2023 snap election was Noboa’s stunning victory over González. He won with a little more than 50 percent of the vote. As voters make their choices today, they face a critical decision that will shape Ecuador’s future in the face of significant security challenges.
As the election plays out, the country finds itself at a critical juncture. Both candidates present contrasting visions for dealing with crime and governance amid widespread public concern over safety and economic stability.
