Ecuadorans voted Sunday in a high-stakes presidential election overshadowed by escalating drug-related violence and economic instability. The race pits conservative incumbent Daniel Noboa against leftist challenger Luisa Gonzalez, as the nation grapples with its worst security crisis in decades.
More than 13.7 million people are eligible to vote in the mandatory election. Early voting took place Thursday for thousands of inmates awaiting sentencing at over 40 prison polling stations. Polls opened at 7 a.m. local time and will close at 5 p.m.
Ecuador, once considered one of South America’s safest nations, has seen a sharp rise in cartel turf wars, tied to cocaine trafficking from neighboring Colombia and Peru. The country’s murder rate surged from 6.85 per 100,000 people in 2019 to 46.18 per 100,000 in 2023 before declining slightly last year under Noboa’s leadership.
Security concerns have dominated the campaign, with both candidates heavily guarded to prevent a repeat of last year’s assassination of a presidential contender.
“We’re only human, of course, you feel afraid,” Gonzalez, 47, said Saturday. “But there is a bigger challenge here—to transform the country.”
Noboa, 37, an heir to a banana trade empire, declared a state of emergency in response to rising violence, deploying the military to combat gangs. He also ordered the closure of Ecuador’s borders with Colombia and Peru during the election period.
Human rights groups have raised concerns over alleged abuses linked to military operations, including the recent killing of four boys whose charred bodies were found near an army base.
Beyond security, Ecuador faces mounting economic challenges. The country likely entered a recession last year, forcing Noboa to seek a $4 billion financial package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Gonzalez, a protégé of former President Rafael Correa, has reassured voters she will maintain IMF relations but warned against policies that burden working families. Correa’s 2008 decision to default on foreign debt continues to impact Ecuador’s borrowing costs.
Adding to economic concerns, thousands of Ecuadorans face deportation from the United States under expected policy changes, threatening a reduction in remittances, which account for $6 billion annually.
“Our compatriots are returning, and that means more unemployment, more insecurity, more problems,” said Vinicio Colcha, a 45-year-old merchant. “The outlook is dark.”
If no candidate secures over 50% of the vote—or 40% with a 10-point lead—a second-round runoff is scheduled for April 13.
The results will determine whether Ecuador stays its current course under Noboa or shifts toward Gonzalez’s leftist platform, amid ongoing instability in the country.
