Daniel Noboa wins Ecuador’s runoff and will become the youngest president in the country’s history

Daniel Noboa, of the National Democratic Alliance (ADN), won Ecuador’s presidential runoff on Sunday. He received 51.83% of the vote, compared with 48.17% for Luisa González, of the Citizen Revolution party, according to data from the National Electoral Council.

After the election, the president-elect said he would start working to build “a new Ecuador”.

“I want to thank all Ecuadorians for their vote of confidence. This is a victory for all Ecuadorians, for everyone who wants a better future for our country,” he said in a speech from his home in the beach town of Olón, in Santa Elena province.

After losing an election in which turnout exceeded 82%, Luisa González also thanked voters for participating and congratulated her rival on his victory.

The lawyer, who is aligned with former president Rafael Correa, also used her speech to call for national unity. “Ecuadorians must stand together to build a better future for our country,” she said. “Our differences do not matter; we must work together for the good of all.”

Incumbent president Guillermo Lasso also congratulated the winner and referred to the handover of power. “It will be a pleasure to welcome you to Carondelet Palace on Tuesday. We must begin the transition process now so that you can gain a deeper understanding of Ecuador’s economic, social and security situation,” Lasso said on Twitter/X.

Following the results, businessman Noboa will become Ecuador’s youngest president at just 35. His brief political career to date includes serving as a member of Ecuador’s National Assembly for Santa Elena (2021–2023), where he also chaired the Economic Development Committee. The winner is the son of Álvaro Noboa Pontón, the wealthy Ecuadorian banana entrepreneur who has run for president five times but never won.

Among the challenges Noboa will have to address in less than 18 months are the crisis of violence linked to drug trafficking and organised crime, reflected in rising murders and other offences. He will also have to govern with a deeply divided National Assembly: Noboa’s party holds only 13 of 137 seats, while the Citizen Revolution caucus holds 52.

Noboa is expected to take office in December 2023 and serve until 2025, completing Lasso’s term. Lasso dissolved the National Assembly in May and called an early election after invoking the “cross-death” mechanism.

Author: Marina Vanni