Ecuador is gearing up for a crucial election this Sunday. Many view it as a referendum on President Daniel Noboa’s tough approach to the drug crisis. He’s running against Luisa González, and polls show the race is neck-and-neck.
Noboa, just 37 years old, narrowly won the first round in February by fewer than 17,000 votes. His unexpected rise to power started when he took over after former president Guillermo Lasso, who disbanded Congress to avoid impeachment.
Since taking office, Noboa declared an “internal armed conflict” and focused on a heavy-handed strategy against drug gangs. Initially, this approach seemed to reduce crime. But reports of human rights violations soon surged, and violence returned. Ecuador now has the highest homicide rate in Latin America, and recent figures indicate that January and February had record-high violent deaths.
A chilling event happened last month in Guayaquil, where 22 people were killed in brutal gang confrontations. One resident, María, shared, “Everything is worse now. We’ve been abandoned by the state.”
Noboa’s challenges don’t stop at violence. An energy crisis has caused up to 14-hour blackouts. Reports show Ecuador’s GDP shrank by 1.5%, and poverty rose from 26% to 28% within a year. María articulated the struggle many face, saying, “Life has become unbearable. We just want to live with dignity.”
In a recent survey, 61% of participants felt that neither their economic situation nor their personal security had improved since Noboa took office. Pedro Labayen Herrera from the Center for Economic and Policy Research emphasized, “The economy isn’t recovering, and people are losing faith in the rule of law.”
Political analyst Matías Abad Merchán noted a growing discontent among a segment of the electorate. Many believe Noboa is showing authoritarian tendencies, prompting fears that he might not accept election results if he loses. During his campaign, he sparked controversy by ordering police to storm the Mexican embassy to arrest a former vice-president, further straining his political image.
Amid these controversies, Noboa has sought to strengthen ties with the U.S. He was recently photographed with Donald Trump during a visit to Florida, likely hoping to bolster his support. Additionally, he formed an alliance with Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, as part of his crime-fighting strategy.
Unexpected findings have also emerged. A Brazilian outlet revealed that cocaine was discovered in shipments tied to Noboa’s family banana business, raising questions about corruption ties. Noboa denies any wrongdoing, claiming his family is cooperating with investigations.
As the election approaches, international observers, including 14 Democratic U.S. Congress members, have voiced concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. They urge for a fair election, emphasizing the importance of respecting the results.
In this tense atmosphere, both Noboa and González will have to convince Ecuadorians that they can bring about real change. The stakes are high, and the outcome could reshape not only Ecuador’s political landscape but also its fight against crime and economic recovery.
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