Noboa vs. González: A Nation’s Future Hangs in the Balance

By Cora Kirby

Daniel Noboa became Ecuador’s president in a 2023 snap election and now faces a presidential election this coming Sunday. The ballot will consist of 16 candidates, but Noboa and leftist lawyer Luisa Gonzalez remain the frontrunners. Gonzalez worked under former president Rafael Correa, and has garnered the support of many of his voters. While Correa had low homicide rates, his administration was also defined by scandal and corruption. Gonzalez’s ties to Correa may prove to be detrimental to her campaign.

As the election approaches, confronting violence remains voters’ primary concern. Throughout Noboa’s short time in office, he has made strides to thwart the crime with presidential decrees and harsher sentences for offenders. The homicide rate dropped from 2023 to 2024, but Noboa’s “iron fist” policy on violent crime raises concerns about human rights violations. Noboa beat opponent Luisa Gonzalez in 2023, but Gonzalez has vocalized that more action is needed to combat drug trafficking and crime with military and police operations.

If the results on Sunday are not decisive, there will be a runoff election on April 13. Voting in Ecuador is mandatory, and whoever wins must tackle the security concerns ravishing the country.