TIGHT CONTEST: President Daniel Noboa holds up his ballot
ECUADOR will choose its next president in a run-off election after right-wing incumbent Daniel Noboa and left-wing lawyer Luisa Gonzalez fought to an almost dead heat on Sunday.
Figures released by Ecuador’s National Electoral Council showed Mr Noboa received more than 3.71 million votes (44.43 per cent), while Ms Gonzalez earned over 3.69 million votes (44.17 per cent).
The 14 other candidates in the race were far behind them.
Voting is mandatory in Ecuador. Electoral authorities reported that more than 83 per cent of the roughly 13.7 million eligible voters cast ballots.
The rerun, on April 13, will be a repeat of the October 2023 snap election that earned Mr Noboa a 16-month presidency.
Mr Noboa and Ms Gonzalez are now vying for a full four-year term, promising voters to reduce the widespread criminal activity.
The high levels of crime across the country have been a major factor for voters.
Noboa’s second term looks set to deepen his neoliberal policies: reduced public investment, privatization, cuts to social programmes, and militarisation, says PILAR TROYA FERNANDEZ
Ecuador’s election wasn’t free — and its people will pay the price under President Noboa
