Ecuador’s High-Stakes Presidential Election: Crime, Correísmo, and the Struggle for Stability

Noboa vs. González in a polarised runoff that will test Ecuador’s democracy, social contract, and ability to confront organised crime.

Ecuador heads to the polls again this Sunday, April 13, to decide a presidential runoff that mirrors its deep political divisions. In a repeat of their 2023 contest, incumbent Daniel Noboa faces off against Luisa González—but this time, the stakes are higher.

After 16 turbulent months in office, Noboa is seeking a full four-year term. González, the protégé of former President Rafael Correa, promises to revive a state-led, socially conservative model. Ecuadorians are being asked to choose between two starkly different futures: Noboa’s embattled war on crime or González’s promise of economic redistribution and institutional reform.