Ecuador held a national election, where over 13 million citizens were called to vote for the president, vice president, 151 National Assembly members, and five Andean parliamentarians. The election took place in a climate of high expectation, marked by political polarization, increased violence, and an economy in recession. The country has been under an “exception regime” of security since last year, allowing for militarization.
Voting centers opened at 7:00 am, with a constant influx of voters throughout the day. The National Electoral Council reported that all electoral tables were installed normally, and the day passed without relevant incidents. By 10:00 am, 8% of the electoral roll had already voted. The president of the National Electoral Council, Diana Atamaint, highlighted the presence of 57,291 members of the National Police and 48,825 of the Armed Forces to guarantee the security of the process.
There were 16 candidates vying for the presidency, but the contest was primarily between President Daniel Noboa, of the National Democratic Action Party, and Luisa González, of Citizen Revolution. Noboa sought re-election after assuming power in 2023, while González aspired to return her party to the government. The candidates cast their votes in different locations, with Noboa voting in the coastal town of Oón and González voting in her native Canuto.
González criticized the security measures implemented by the government, stating that they had not solved the problem of violence and had criminalized young people from popular sectors. Other candidates, including Otto Sonnenholzner and Jan Topic, also cast their votes and made statements about the importance of economic reactivation and the need for change.
The social-Christian candidate, Henry Kornfle, questioned the National Electoral Council’s decision to allow Noboa to campaign without taking a leave of absence from his position. The Vice President of Ecuador, Verónica Abad, called on citizens to defend democracy and criticized the government’s actions as unconstitutional.
The Organization of American States deployed a mission of 88 observers to supervise the electoral process, with the head of the mission stating that their purpose was to be impartial and rigorous. The European Union also sent a mission of 100 observers, who reported that the development of the election was normal, despite some difficulties.
The election took place in a context of growing violence and economic recession, with Ecuador registering almost 7,000 homicides in 2024. President Noboa had declared a state of “internal armed conflict” a year ago, implementing measures to stop crime. However, his option came to the election day as the favorite for re-election, with most surveys indicating that he would win the first round.
After the closure of the polls, the National Electoral Council began the count, prioritizing the presidential election. The official results were expected to take several hours to consolidate, although a rapid count was expected to provide a clear trend before midnight. The first numbers began to be known after 8:00 pm, with the headquarters of the political parties becoming points of concentration for supporters. The entire country remained attentive to the outcome of an election that would define its course in the coming years.
Election Context
The elections were marked by a high level of political polarization, with the two main candidates representing different ideologies. The country’s economy has been in recession, and the level of violence has increased significantly, with a record number of homicides in 2024. The government’s response to the violence has been criticized, with some arguing that it has not been effective in reducing crime.
International Observation
The Organization of American States and the European Union sent observation missions to supervise the electoral process. The missions reported that the election was generally peaceful, but there were some difficulties in the access of partisan delegates to some voting classrooms. The observation missions played an important role in ensuring the transparency and legitimacy of the election.
Post-Election Developments
After the closure of the polls, the National Electoral Council began the count, and the official results were expected to take several hours to consolidate. The rapid count was expected to provide a clear trend before midnight, and the first numbers began to be known after 8:00 pm. The headquarters of the political parties became points of concentration for supporters, and the entire country remained attentive to the outcome of the election. The results of the election will have a significant impact on the country’s future, and the incoming government will face significant challenges in addressing the country’s economic and security issues.