Ecuador Presidential Elections Head to Second Round in April

ecuador - Ecuador's presidential elections will be decided in a runoff in two months, as neither candidate secured the required majority in the first round.

Ecuador's Presidential Elections Head to Second Round

The presidential elections in Ecuador will be decided in a runoff in April, with neither candidate reaching the required majority in the first round. Incumbent President Daniel Noboa and his leftist challenger Luisa González both garnered 44% of the votes, falling short of the fifty percent threshold for victory. The indigenous votes are expected to be decisive on April 13.

The close race defied poll predictions, with Noboa initially favored to win by a significant margin. Noboa aims to continue his fight against criminal gangs and reduce violence in the country until 2029, while González seeks to bring the socialist Revolutionary Citizen Movement (RC) back to power.

González expressed joy at the results, breaking a decade-long negative voting trend for her party. The upcoming election on April 13 will determine whether she becomes Ecuador's first female president.

Noboa, disappointed by not clinching victory in the first round, faces a challenging runoff campaign as both candidates vie for support from the voters of the other 14 candidates. The Assembly also lacks a clear majority, with the National Democratic Action and the Revolutionary Citizen Movement relying on support from smaller parties.

The indigenous movement led by Leónidas Iza holds a key position, with the Pachakutik Movement potentially influencing the election outcome. Iza's stance on supporting either candidate remains undecided.

The candidate who secures 50% of the votes in April will become the new president. González, with 4.1 million votes, needs to garner 4.7 million to win. The race intensifies as both candidates seek to sway undecided voters and secure a majority in the upcoming runoff.