Ecuadorians, worn down by escalating violence, decisively re-elected President Daniel Noboa on Sunday, reaffirming support for the conservative millionaire’s uncompromising approach to crime, even as his rival alleged widespread electoral fraud and vowed to contest the results.
According to Ecuador’s National Electoral Council, Noboa secured 55.8% of the vote with over 92% of ballots tallied, outpacing left-leaning lawyer Luisa González, who garnered 44%.
Council president, Diana Atamaint, emphasized that the outcome reflected an “irreversible trend” in favor of the incumbent.
Noboa’s victory grants him a full four-year term to pursue the agenda he first introduced during the unexpected 2023 snap election, which he won despite having minimal political experience.
“Ecuador is changing… and that path will mean our children will live better lives than we did,” Noboa declared in a victory speech that also addressed González’s allegations. “I find it embarrassing that with an 11- or 12-point difference, they come out to question the will of the Ecuadorians,” he added. “Ecuadorians have already spoken, now we have to get to work.”
The 37-year-old Noboa, whose wealth stems from a family empire built on bananas, has become known for pushing the boundaries of governance with his bold crime-fighting strategies, approaches that have polarized the public.
González’s loss marks the third unsuccessful presidential bid for the movement founded by former President Rafael Correa. Speaking to supporters, she rejected the election results announced by the National Electoral Council, citing inconsistencies with pre-election polling data that showed her in the lead.
Both candidates had emerged as frontrunners after the February first-round vote, where Noboa edged out González by roughly 17,000 votes.
The dominant concern among voters was the rampant violence that has plagued Ecuador since 2021, largely fueled by cocaine smuggling operations linked to neighboring Colombia and Peru.
Both Noboa and González campaigned on promises to bolster security through stronger law enforcement, better equipment, and global collaboration to combat drug cartels and local gangs.
“My vote is clear,” said retiree Irene Valdez. “I want to continue living in freedom.”
But not all were convinced by Noboa’s methods. “I think Luisa is going to change things because Noboa has been very authoritarian,” said 19-year-old college student Martín Constante in Quito. “Our country needs a lot of changes.”
González’s appeal largely stemmed from those nostalgic for the Correa era, a time marked by lower crime and unemployment. However, critics note that era’s authoritarian tilt, mounting debt, and Correa’s 2020 conviction on corruption charges handed down in absentia.
Out of more than 13 million eligible voters, with voting compulsory for adults under 65, electoral officials reported over 80% participation. Noncompliance carries a fine of $46.
“The most important thing is that a comfortable result gives peace of mind to the country because it avoids a political confrontation, or even worse, a violent one due to accusations of fraud,” noted Grace Jaramillo, a professor at the University of British Columbia specializing in the Andean region. “Noboa’s victory is clear, and that also reassures the international community in the face of a wave of uncertainty.”
Despite the clear margin, electoral authorities noted a series of infractions. Several voters and polling staff were arrested for anomalies, including cases of double voting and the circulation of counterfeit, pre-marked ballots.
Additionally, 17 individuals were caught photographing their ballots, a prohibited act in this election aimed at preventing gang-related voter coercion. Violators face fines of up to $32,000.
Analyst Oswaldo Landázuri pointed to deepening national divisions, “Ecuador is polarized, which is a sign of rejection of the past, but also of the recent policies of the Noboa administration,” he said, warning that lack of concession from either side could trigger broader instability.
In 2023, both Noboa and González were relatively new faces in Ecuadorian politics. Their presidential bids came after then-President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the National Assembly, triggering the snap election and shortening his own term.
Noboa began his political journey as a lawmaker, following years in the private sector where he held leadership roles in his father’s banana export company. He also launched his own event planning business at 18.
Meanwhile, González, 47, served in various roles under Correa’s presidency — a period characterized by generous social spending and increasing authoritarianism.
In January 2024, Noboa declared an “internal armed conflict,” deploying troops to battle gangs and enabling prosecutors to pursue terrorism charges against alleged organized crime affiliates. While his actions led to a drop in the homicide rate from 46.18 per 100,000 in 2023 to 38.76 in 2024, it remains significantly higher than the 2019 figure of 6.85.
Though hailed by some as necessary, Noboa’s tactics have faced scrutiny over potential legal overreach.
Ironically, he too questioned electoral integrity after February’s vote, citing unspecified “irregularities,” although international observers from both the EU and the Organization of American States found no evidence of fraud.
On election day, González was met by chants of “Luisa is the people” as she walked through Canuto, her hometown in Manabí Province. “We have all united to rewrite the history of Ecuador,” she told supporters before condemning attempts to “plant marked ballots” with her name.
