The 2025 Ecuadorian presidential runoff on April 13 features incumbent Daniel Noboa facing off against Luisa González in a hotly contested race. Both candidates received approximately 44 percent of the vote in the first round, with Indigenous candidate Leonidas Iza potentially influencing the outcome. The next president will face a divided National Assembly, requiring collaboration with smaller parties to advance their policies amid ongoing security and economic challenges.
Ecuador is preparing for a significant presidential runoff on April 13, pitting incumbent Daniel Noboa against former Assemblywoman Luisa González. This election marks a pivotal moment for voters, as they choose between maintaining Noboa’s continuity or endorsing a return to the policies associated with correísmo during González’s tenure. Both candidates faced a competitive first round, each acquiring approximately 44 percent of the votes in a field of 16 candidates, with Noboa narrowly leading by just 19,800 votes among an electorate of nearly 13.8 million.
The election landscape is further complicated by Indigenous candidate Leonidas Iza, who garnered 5 percent of the vote. Iza has made it clear he will not support either Noboa or González, advising, “not a single vote goes to the right,” referring to Noboa’s political alignment. Both candidates are keenly aware of the significance of his 538,000 supporters as they strategize for the runoff.
Regardless of the outcome, the next president will have to navigate a National Assembly that is evenly divided among the parties of Noboa and González, each falling short of a majority. González’s Citizen Revolution party holds 67 seats, while Noboa’s National Democratic Action (ADN) possesses 66 seats. With 76 votes needed for a simple majority in the newly constituted 151-seat assembly, collaboration with smaller parties, such as Iza’s Pachakutik, will be essential for legislative success.
The candidates’ platforms and their records on pressing issues such as security, employment, and energy supply are key focuses of the ongoing election discourse. Vanda Felbab-Brown, a security expert from Brookings, has highlighted the challenges associated with Noboa’s security policies, particularly his Bukele-like hardline approach, questioning whether this will prove effective in addressing Ecuador’s security needs. The broader economic landscape in the region suggests a slow but steady growth trajectory as elections unfold across the Americas in 2025.
In conclusion, the Ecuadorian presidential runoff between Daniel Noboa and Luisa González represents a significant decision for voters amidst pressing national challenges. With both candidates closely matched in the first round, the outcome on April 13 may hinge on the support from disenchanted voters, including those of Leonidas Iza. The necessity for coalition-building in the National Assembly will undoubtedly impact the next government’s capacity to implement its policies effectively, especially considering ongoing issues of security and economic growth.
Original Source: www.as-coa.org
