Incumbent Daniel Novore is seeking re-election, and Luisa Gonzalez is considered his main rival.
Ecuadorian voters will choose their next president in a race dominated by the country’s security crisis and the fighting economy.
The polls will open on Sunday at local time (12:00 GMT) and close 10 hours later (22:00 GMT).
The 15 candidates are challenging President Daniel Novore, the 37-year-old son of billionaire Banana, who came to power just 14 months ago. His top challenger is a 47-year-old pupil of Left-wing lawmaker Luisa Gonzalez and former president Rafael Correa.
Gonzalez performed dramatically pre-election polls and was a key factor in his expected lead by experts to help the Iron win or the “Manodura” approach defeats his approach to crime. is considered.
If the candidate has not received 50% of the votes or wins 40% of the nearest rival who has a 10-point lead, the second runoff will take place on April 13th.
“Ecuador wants to continue to change.”
The campaign focuses heavily on concerns about the economic and cartel turf war that have transformed Ecuador from one of the safest countries in the world to one of the most dangerous countries.
Novoa, who was first elected to end his predecessor’s term in 2023, says that military deployment on the streets helped reduce violent deaths by 15%, resulting in a dramatic decline in prison violence. They connected and encouraged the capture of large gangs. leader.
“Today, Ecuador wants to change and continue to change. It wants to integrate victory,” Novoa said at a deadline campaign rally in Quito, the capital on Thursday. “Regain your ability to dream this Sunday.”
But the president’s rivals say there is more to be done to combat the drug trade-related crimes that have been shaking Ecuador in recent years.
Gonzalez says he will respond to crimes in military and police operations, corrupt judges and prosecutors, and implement social spending plans in the most violent areas.
“We cannot talk about dominating violence without thinking about social justice and building Ecuador with peace rather than war,” Gonzalez said. “We are moving towards this transformation together with each and every one of you… we will save ourselves together.”
“The worst crisis in half a century”
Novoa, one of the world’s youngest leaders, bets his political future on a tough approach to crime that is rampaging along with rival gangs fighting over territory for cocaine smuggling.
During his first term, he declared a state of emergency, deploying troops across the country and garnering extraordinary enforcement to curb violence.
Human rights groups believe that Novore has led to active use of the military. This includes the murder of four boys whose burnt bodies were found near a military base.
However, analysts say Novore may have an advantage as the rise in cartel violence and record-breaking homicide rates continue to encourage support for strong leadership.
“Our research shows that the majority of voters want a kind of dictatorship. They want that iron fist, whatever the ideology behind it,” says the analyst. Omar Marc told Al Jazeera.
“In January this year, Ecuador reached a world record of 700 murders in a month, so even if these measures have almost failed so far, they still want a strong man who has no weakness or sensibility. I’m here.”
The security crisis was hit by the economy and could have entered a recession last year.
Noboa was forced to resort to the International Monetary Fund to build a $4 billion fiscal warfare box.
Gonzalez eased fears that he might scrap the IMF trade if elected, and on Saturday, UN agencies said they were “welcome” to support them unless they advocate policies that hurt working families. I stated.
Source link
