Ecuador presidential choice: What to know

Daniel Nemaa, president of Center-Right of Ecuador, faces re-election after 15 months in office.

His predecessor, Guillermo Lasso, requested early elections in 2023 in the midst of political trial procedures about accusations of embezzlement.

Mr. Novoa, 37, a graduate from the Harvard Kennedy school that comes from one of the richest families in Ecuador, rose unexpectedly at the polls to win the elections and fulfill the rest of Mr. Lasso’s mandate.

At stake is the direction in which the problematic nation of almost 18 million will take, since it dealt with violence fed with drugs and high unemployment, problems that have sent tens of thousands of Ecuadorians to the United States.

Why is this choice important?

Five years ago, Mr. Novoa was a political unknown. He was chosen for the country’s legislature in 2021 and fulfilled a period.

During the 2023 elections to replace Mr. Lasso, he got up from the bottom of the surveys in the first voting round to score a victory in the second place after a strong debate performance. Then he beat a candidate for the leftist establishment, Luisa González, in the second round.

Mrs. González runs again and represents the party of a powerful former president, Rafael Correa, a polarizing figure in Ecuador. Many voters express nostalgia about low violence and the strong economy that characterized its presidency, while others remember their authoritarian style and their condemnation for corruption charges.

For years, Mr. Correa’s leftist movement has defined Ecuadorian policy, but some analysts say that if Mr. Novoa wins, he has the potential to create his own movement.

Mr. Nnovoa’s party, which was formed less than a year ago, is predicted in the surveys to win approximately one third of the seats in the Legislature, the same as Mr. Correa’s party.

Who are the main candidates?

Mr. Nnovera was first chosen behind the backs of a desperate wish of change after an explosion of insecurity in Ecuador and a particularly bloody electoral cycle of 2023, including the murder of another presidential candidate.

Although violence, together with unemployment, remains high, has supported a skilled social media strategy to project an image of young people and vigor that has captivated many of its voters.

In an effort to suffocate spiral violence and an outbreak of penitentiary disturbances, Mr. Novoa last year imposed a state of internal armed conflict, allowing the military to patrol the streets and prisons.

He also sent the police to the Mexican embassy in Quito, the capital, to arrest a politician who seeks refuge from a prison sentence for corruption, in what was considered a shameless violation of the diplomatic protocol. Some analysts saw the movements as an overreach of the presidential authority and a threat to civil liberties.

But their supporters see him as a bold leader willing to break the rules and face corrupt forces. In April, Ecuadorians supported their hard line approach when they approved a referendum that consecrated the increase in military presence in the law.

“It has to be firm to make people respect it,” said Jessica Navarro, 34, a taxi driver in Quito.

Mrs. González, the political opponent, has been defined by her relationship with Correa, who selected her to represent her party.

“When Rafael Correa was there, he really supported us a lot,” said Edgar Escobar, 28, a nursing student who supports Mrs. González. “I would like to return to that country we had before.”

But Ledy Zúñiga, a former Minister of Justice who is running for the National Assembly with the party of Mrs. González, rejected the notion that she represents the past.

“It’s not about returning to the past,” he said. “People still have eight years later blaming things that happen to a government that is no longer here. More than going back to the past, the problem is having a team with experience and technical knowledge, because public administration is not easy. “

What are the main problems?

Ecuador faces persistent violence, chronic unemployment and an energy crisis. January I saw more violent deaths than any month in the last three years, according to police data.

A drought last year in a country that depends largely on hydroelectric energy caused daily energy cuts of 14 hours for approximately three months. The crisis threatened with the water, cell and internet service, closed the companies and entire industries in danger of extinction.

In the last five years, the drug trafficking industry has expanded in Ecuador, resorting to international criminal groups and unleashing levels of extraordinary levels in the nation that was once folding.

But Mr. Nnovera’s campaign has generally been defined more by image (the country has been flooded with cardboard cuts, and less for specific policies proposals to address their country’s challenges.

Mr. Novoa often speaks vaguely about throwing “old Ecuador” in the garbage.

Mrs. González has emphasized to address the security crisis strengthening the institutions of Ecuador as the justice, health and education system.

When will the results be known?

The Ecuadorian presidential elections generally present two voting rounds, with the two main candidates in the first round facing a second round. To win the first round directly, a candidate must receive more than 50 percent of the votes, or 40 percent of the votes with a margin of 10 points on the closest opponent.

Center Show Mr. Novoa at the head before Sunday’s elections, with the possibility of winning enough votes to avoid runoff.

The vote begins at 7 am on Sunday and ends at 5 pm, the results are expected to start reaching 6 pm

Where can I find more information?