Ecuador’s Tense Election: Amid Rising Violence and Drug War, Voters Choose New President
Voters in Ecuador have participated in a tense election, marked by rising violence and a drug war, to choose a new president amidst a climate of fear and political assassinations. The two finalists in this runoff election, lawyer Luisa Gonzalez and banana empire heir Daniel Noboa, have both campaigned in bulletproof vests and under heavy security due to the escalating violence in the country.
The election took place against a backdrop of crime and violence, which have become the main concerns of Ecuadorians. In recent years, the murder rate in the country has quadrupled, reaching alarming levels. To ensure the safety of the voting process, around 54,000 police officers were deployed across the nation.
One of the major issues affecting Ecuador is drug-related violence. Situated between major cocaine exporters Colombia and Peru, the country has become a battleground for rival gangs affiliated with Mexican and Colombian cartels. This violence has spilled over into prisons, resulting in mass riots and the brutal killings of inmates. Gangs have also carried out shocking acts of violence in urban areas, such as displaying headless corpses and targeting police stations with car bombs.
The significance of this election lies not only in choosing a new president but also in the completion of the term of the incumbent Guillermo Lasso, who called for a snap vote to avoid possible impeachment for alleged embezzlement. The winner will serve a relatively short 16-month term but will be eligible to run for the 2025-2029 presidential term and beyond.
The two candidates, Gonzalez and Noboa, are relatively unknown figures. Gonzalez, the candidate of the socialist Citizen Revolution party, is supported by former president Rafael Correa, who currently resides in Belgium to evade a prison sentence for corruption. Noboa, on the other hand, hails from a wealthy family in the banana industry and has had multiple unsuccessful presidential bids.
Ecuador faces significant challenges in terms of poverty and unemployment, with a poverty rate of 27% and a quarter of the population either unemployed or engaged in informal work. Unemployment ranks as the second most important concern for voters, after crime. Gonzalez has pledged to increase social spending, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare, while Noboa promises progress for all.
The outcome of this election could have implications for the country’s future as the candidates would need to navigate a highly divided legislature to implement any reforms. Voting is compulsory for the 13.4 million eligible voters in Ecuador, and opinion polls indicate a closely contested race with a significant number of undecided voters.
As Ecuador awaits the first preliminary results, both candidates have expressed confidence in their prospects of victory. Gonzalez, voting in the town of Canuto, predicted that Ecuador and the Citizen Revolution party would emerge triumphant. Meanwhile, Noboa, casting his vote in the coastal town of Olon, shouted, Today we win, reflecting his optimism.
The results of this election will shape Ecuador’s immediate future and reveal the direction the country will take to address pressing issues such as violence, drug trafficking, corruption, poverty, and unemployment.
