Entrepreneur Daniel Noboa has won the presidential elections in Ecuador. His left-wing opponent Luisa Gonzalez congratulated Noboa on his victory as the runoff election was being counted. After counting almost 90 percent of the votes, Noboa reached 52 percent, the electoral office announced on Sunday evening (local time) in the capital Quito. Gonzales received 48 percent of the vote. Gonzales is considered a protege of ex-president Rafael Correa, who was convicted of corruption.
The 35-year-old Noboa, son of entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Alvaro Noboa, delivered on the promise to improve the economy and create jobs for young people. About a quarter of the thirteen million eligible Ecuadorians are between 18 and 29 years old. The 35-year-old himself was elected the youngest president in history.
Father has run for president five times
Noboa is considered a centre-right politician. His father, Álvaro Noboa, ran for president five times. If he wins, González would have become Ecuador’s first female president. She won the first round of elections with 33.6 percent of the votes. González belongs to the camp of ex-president Rafael Correa (2007-2017), who was convicted of corruption and lives in exile in Belgium.
However, Noboa will only hold the office for about 18 months, starting in mid-December – until the end of the term intended for current President Guillermo Lasso. The conservative parliament dissolved in May after two years in office, when it launched impeachment proceedings against him over embezzlement charges. According to the constitution, early elections were necessary.
Increasing violence and drug war
The South American country with around 18 million inhabitants is struggling with an increasing wave of violence and the growing influence of drug cartels. Hundreds of prisoners died in prisons alone. Noboa has announced it will house dangerous criminals on prison ships.
However, Noboa will only hold the office for about 18 months, starting in mid-December – until the end of the term intended for current President Guillermo Lasso. The conservative parliament dissolved in May after two years in office, when it launched impeachment proceedings against him over embezzlement charges. According to the constitution, early elections were necessary.
Presidential candidate shot dead
Eleven days before the first round of elections in August, presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, who promised to fight corruption, was shot dead after a campaign rally in the capital Quito. Seven men arrested as suspects in the case were found dead in prisons a few days ago.
Source: Krone

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