Ecuador’s second presidential election in 2025 pits incumbent President Daniel Noboa against challenger Luisa González. Both candidates present differing economic visions while supporting militarized crime policies. Noboa focuses on combating crime and addressing the energy crisis, whereas González aims to revive social initiatives and reduce oil dependency. The election outcome holds significant implications for Ecuador’s governance and citizen welfare.
Ecuador will conduct its second presidential election this year, where voters will select between incumbent conservative President Daniel Noboa and progressive challenger Luisa González. The first election in February did not yield a clear winner, as both candidates received approximately 44 percent of the vote, failing to secure the necessary majority.
Daniel Noboa, the youngest president in Ecuador’s history and scion of a significant banana plantation, took office in 2023 to complete his predecessor Guillermo Lasso’s term. Lasso had previously dissolved the National Assembly to escape impeachment stemming from corruption accusations.
Noboa faced considerable challenges upon entering office; Ecuador’s murder rate surged dramatically from 2018 to 2022. To combat the rising violence, he declared a 60-day state of emergency shortly after assuming office, which allowed military involvement in policing and sanctioned intrusive actions against suspected criminals. A second emergency declaration occurred in January 2024, but violence recently escalated, making January 2024 the bloodiest month on record in Ecuador.
The economic landscape under Noboa has deteriorated, primarily due to an energy crisis triggered by droughts affecting hydropower generation. Consequently, the nation experienced significant power outages, with potential financial losses estimated at $12 million per hour of blackout. Economic data indicated a 1.5 percent drop in gross domestic product in the last quarter of 2024, while poverty rates increased by 2 percent.
If reelected, Noboa intends to intensify crime-fighting measures through the construction of a $52 million maximum-security prison for notorious drug lords and aims to resolve the energy scarcity with an undisclosed economic plan focused on poverty alleviation via expanded social initiatives, including stipends for low-income families.
Luisa González, who previously contested Noboa in 2023, is supported by former President Rafael Correa, recently convicted of corruption offenses. Although linked to Correa, González maintains that she would not influence his legal situation if elected. Like Noboa, she emphasizes a robust military and police approach to combat crime while also proposing the reinstatement of the Ministry of Justice to enhance rehabilitation efforts within the penal system.
González’s economic vision aims to transition Ecuador away from oil dependency, which currently fulfills 82 percent of the nation’s energy demands. She proposes expanding social expenditures, including tax reductions for women-led enterprises and adjustments to the sales tax. Both candidates, despite differing economic strategies, share a common inclination towards increasing governmental authority for public safety.
The direction of Ecuador’s future hangs in the balance as both candidates present distinct visions but converge on the substantial state intervention in light of national safety concerns.
As Ecuador prepares for its upcoming presidential election, voters face a choice between candidates with contrasting economic policies yet similar commitments to enhance state power for public security. Daniel Noboa aims to address crime and energy issues, while Luisa González advocates for a return to Correa-era social programs. The effectiveness of their proposed policies remains uncertain, leaving voters to consider the implications for the country’s future governance and public safety.
Original Source: reason.com
