{"id":235174,"date":"2025-02-09T16:13:06","date_gmt":"2025-02-09T16:13:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/09\/ecuadors-presidential-election-what-to-know-2\/"},"modified":"2025-02-09T16:13:06","modified_gmt":"2025-02-09T16:13:06","slug":"ecuadors-presidential-election-what-to-know-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/09\/ecuadors-presidential-election-what-to-know-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Ecuador\u2019s Presidential Election: What to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align:center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2025\/02\/09\/multimedia\/09ecuador-election-explainer-gpbm\/09ecuador-election-explainer-gpbm-facebookJumbo.jpg?ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Ecuador\u2019s Presidential Election: What to Know\" title=\"Ecuador\u2019s Presidential Election: What to Know\" \/><\/div><p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-0\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Daniel Noboa, Ecuador\u2019s center-right president, is facing re-election after 15 months in office.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">His predecessor, Guillermo Lasso, called for early elections in 2023 amid impeachment proceedings over embezzlement accusations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Mr. Noboa, 37, a Harvard Kennedy School graduate who comes from one of Ecuador\u2019s wealthiest families, rose unexpectedly in the polls to win election and serve out the remainder of Mr. Lasso\u2019s term.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">At stake is the direction the troubled nation of nearly 18 million will take as it grapples with drug-fueled violence and high unemployment, issues that have sent tens of thousands of Ecuadoreans to the United States.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-1\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<h2 class=\"css-13o6u42 eoo0vm40\" id=\"link-5d565dd0\">Why is this election important?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Five years ago, Mr. Noboa was a political unknown. He was elected to the country\u2019s legislature in 2021 and served one term.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">During the 2023 elections to replace Mr. Lasso, he rose from the bottom of the polls in the first round of voting to score a second-place victory after a strong debate performance. He then beat a leftist establishment candidate, Luisa Gonz\u00e1lez, in the second round.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-2\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Ms. Gonz\u00e1lez is running again and represents the party of a powerful former president, Rafael Correa, a polarizing figure in Ecuador. Many voters express nostalgia over the low violence and strong economy that characterized his presidency, while others remember his authoritarian style and his <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/07\/world\/americas\/ecuador-correa-corruption-verdict.html\" title=\"\">conviction on corruption charges<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">For years Mr. Correa\u2019s leftist movement has defined Ecuadorean politics, but some analysts say that if Mr. Noboa wins he has the potential to create a movement of his own.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-3\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Mr. Noboa\u2019s party, which was formed less than a year ago, is predicted in polls to win about a third of the seats in the legislature \u2014 the same as Mr. Correa\u2019s party.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"css-13o6u42 eoo0vm40\" id=\"link-1c14c87f\">Who are the top candidates?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Mr. Noboa was first elected on the back of a desperate desire for change following an explosion of insecurity in Ecuador and a particularly bloody 2023 election cycle, including the assassination of another presidential candidate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Though violence, along with unemployment, remain high, he has leaned on a deft social media strategy to project an image of youth and vigor that has captivated many of his constituents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-4\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">In an effort to quell worsening violence and an outbreak of prison riots, Mr. Noboa last year imposed a state of internal armed conflict, allowing the military to patrol the streets and prisons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-5\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">He also sent the police into the Mexican Embassy in Quito, the capital, to arrest a politician seeking refuge from a prison sentence for corruption, in what was considered a brazen breach of diplomatic protocol. Some analysts saw the moves as an overreach of presidential authority and a threat to civil liberties.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">But his supporters see him as a bold leader willing to break the rules and stand up to corrupt forces. In April, Ecuadoreans endorsed his hard-line approach when they approved a referendum enshrining the increased military presence into law.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cHe has to be firm to make people respect him,\u201d said Jessica Navarro, 34, a taxi driver in Quito.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Ms. Gonz\u00e1lez, the political opponent, has been defined by her relationship to Mr. Correa, who handpicked her to represent his party.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cWhen Rafael Correa was there, he really supported us a lot,\u201d said Edgar Escobar, 28, a nursing student who is supporting Ms. Gonz\u00e1lez. \u201cI would like to go back to that country that we had before.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-6\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">But Ledy Z\u00fa\u00f1iga, a former justice minister who is running for the National Assembly with Ms. Gonz\u00e1lez\u2019s party, pushed back against the notion that she represents the past.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-7\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cIt is not about going back to the past,\u2019\u2019 she said. \u201cPeople are still eight years later blaming the things that happen to a government that is no longer here. More than going back to the past, the issue is to have a team with experience and technical knowledge, because public administration is not easy.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"css-13o6u42 eoo0vm40\" id=\"link-60ea1bab\">What are the main issues?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Ecuador is facing persistent violence, chronic unemployment and an energy crisis. January <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eluniverso.com\/noticias\/seguridad\/muertes-violentas-de-enero-2025-en-ecuador-superan-cifras-de-inicio-de-anos-anteriores-nota\/\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">saw more violent deaths<\/a> than any month in the past three years, according to police data.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">A drought last year in a country that largely depends on hydroelectric energy caused daily 14-hour power cuts for about three months. The crisis threatened water, cell and internet service, shut down businesses and endangered entire industries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Over the past five years, the drug-trafficking industry has expanded in Ecuador, drawing in international criminal groups and unleashing extraordinary levels violence in the once-peaceful nation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-8\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">But Mr. Noboa\u2019s campaign has generally been defined more by image \u2014 the country has been flooded with cardboard cutouts of him \u2014 and less by specific policy proposals to address his country\u2019s challenges.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Mr. Noboa often speaks vaguely about throwing \u201cthe old Ecuador\u201d in the trash. <\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Ms. Gonz\u00e1lez has emphasized addressing the security crisis by strengthening Ecuador\u2019s institutions like the justice, health and education system.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"css-13o6u42 eoo0vm40\" id=\"link-5021cd28\">When will the results be known?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-9\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Ecuadorean presidential elections typically feature two rounds of voting, with the two top candidates in the first round facing off in a second round. To win the first round outright, a candidate must receive more than 50 percent of the votes, or 40 percent of the votes with a 10-point margin over the nearest rival.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\"><a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ipsos.com\/es-ec\/intencion-de-voto-en-ecuador-2025\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Polls<\/a> show Mr. Noboa in the lead ahead of Sunday\u2019s election, with the possibility that he could win enough votes to avoid a runoff.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-10\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Voting starts at 7 a.m. Sunday and ends at 5 p.m. Results are expected to start coming in around 6 p.m.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/02\/09\/world\/americas\/ecuador-president-election-2025.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Daniel Noboa, Ecuador\u2019s center-right president, is facing re-election after 15 months in office. His predecessor, Guillermo Lasso, called for early elections in 2023 amid impeachment proceedings over embezzlement accusations. Mr. Noboa, 37, a Harvard Kennedy School graduate who comes from one of Ecuador\u2019s wealthiest families, rose unexpectedly in the polls to win election and serve [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":235175,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2025\/02\/09\/multimedia\/09ecuador-election-explainer-gpbm\/09ecuador-election-explainer-gpbm-facebookJumbo.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[182789,164813,18928,25197,4133,50,67,37007,183394,30260,182788,4132,137131,212,11785],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235174"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=235174"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235174\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":235176,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235174\/revisions\/235176"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/235175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=235174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=235174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=235174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}