Ecuador is preparing for a second electoral round after a closely contested presidential election. With 92% of the votes counted, President Daniel Noboa is currently leading with 44.31% of the votes, closely followed by leftist candidate Luisa González, who has obtained 43.83%. This narrow margin confirms that neither candidate has secured the majority needed to avoid a second round, which is scheduled to take place on April 13.
After the preliminary results were announced, both candidates addressed their supporters. Noboa celebrated his partial advantage, stating that his team had “won the first round against all the old Ecuador parties.” He also expressed his gratitude to his supporters, saying “thank you for the hope and courage to believe again that this country can be different. Now, let’s keep fighting.”
Meanwhile, González was optimistic about the results, describing them as a “technical draw.” She emphasized that “Noboa represents fear, we represent hope.” González also congratulated other candidates who had secured significant votes, including Leonidas Iza.
On Sunday, not only was the president elected, but a new National Assembly was also formed. In the legislative elections, the Dérooa party is close to securing an absolute majority in Parliament, but still needs to win eight more seats to reach 77. The Citizen Revolution, a movement linked to former president Rafael Correa, has already secured 64 positions, according to the results of 89.74% of the minutes of the parliamentary elections. The outcome of these eight seats will also depend on the results of the second round on April 13.
As a result, the National Assembly is likely to be characterized by two dominant forces, which will be forced to negotiate with smaller groups. If Noboa is reelected, he may have more opportunities to advance his policies. However, the electoral results suggest that no single political force will secure an absolute majority, which is necessary to designate parliamentary authorities, approve organic laws, or implement constitutional reform projects.
In the lead-up to the second round, both candidates face the challenge of attracting voters who supported other options or abstained. Their ability to build alliances and present proposals that address the main concerns of citizens will be crucial in the coming weeks. Analysts expect that the election will highlight Ecuador’s political polarization, with the country consolidating into two clearly differentiated trends. This polarization is also evident in the contrast between the rural vote, which tends to support Correism, and the urbanized suffrage, which tends to support Noboa.
