Ecuador’s presidential election will be decided in a runoff on April 13, after conservative incumbent President Daniel Noboa and leftist lawyer Luisa González beat out 14 other candidates, both of them receiving over 44% of the vote. Noboa and González previously faced off in a 2023 snap election. Both candidates have vowed to crack down on crime. Last year, President Noboa, who is the son of an ultra-rich banana magnate, declared a state of internal armed conflict to more easily deploy the military.
Luisa González, a protegée of former President Rafael Correa, has promised to increase social spending. She called for Ecuadorians to unite to defeat Noboa in the second round.

Luisa González: “Months ago, we called for unity among the parties of the left and the center. We also called on the industry to join us, as well as civil society. I’ve also called on the parties of the right and all those who want to recover the country to make Ecuador the safest country in Latin America.”