In Ecuador’s upcoming second presidential election of 2025, incumbent President Daniel Noboa and challenger Luisa González present differing economic strategies but share a commitment to strong crime-related policies. Noboa’s administration has focused on military interventions against crime amid an economic recession. In contrast, González advocates for a social spending approach and the reinstatement of rehabilitation-focused justice policies. Both candidates emphasize increased state power for public safety, which may lead to significant implications for voters regardless of the election’s outcome.
Ecuador will hold its second presidential election of 2025, where voters will choose between incumbent conservative President Daniel Noboa and progressive contender Luisa González. Both candidates garnered around 44% of the vote in the February general elections, requiring this runoff to determine the winner due to the lack of a clear majority.
Daniel Noboa, who became president in 2023 after completing Guillermo Lasso’s term, faced significant challenges, including quadrupling murder rates from 2018 to 2022. To address this, he declared a 60-day state of emergency in multiple provinces, labeling 22 gangs as terrorist organizations and granting the military authorization to patrol and conduct searches without prior permission, as reported by Reuters.
While Noboa’s policies led to an initial 17% drop in the homicide rate, violence surged again, with January marking Ecuador’s highest monthly homicide count ever at 731. Economically, Noboa’s leadership saw the country fall into a recession due to an energy crisis stemming from droughts, resulting in long blackouts and significant productivity losses.
If re-elected, Noboa intends to intensify crime policies, which includes funding for a $52 million security prison for dangerous criminals. His economic proposals aim to resolve the energy crisis and reduce poverty through social programs and direct cash transfers to needy families.
Luisa González, who previously ran against Noboa, is backed by former President Rafael Correa, convicted on corruption charges. Although González maintains she won’t intervene in Correa’s legal issues, she plans to address the crime wave with strong military presence and border security to combat drug trafficking.
González aims to reinstate the Ministry of Justice, which oversees rehabilitation programs but was disbanded in 2018 due to budget cuts, resulting in human rights violations in prisons. Economically, she proposes transitioning Ecuador from an oil-dependent economy, while also advocating for increased social spending and tax reductions to support women-owned businesses.
Despite contrasting economic visions, both Noboa and González support increased state intervention for public safety. The election outcome will significantly impact Ecuador’s governance, and voters may face challenges based on whichever policies are adopted after the election.
Ecuador’s 2025 presidential election is a pivotal moment as it presents contrasting candidates, Daniel Noboa and Luisa González, each with unique approaches to economic recovery and crime reduction. Noboa focuses on tough-on-crime strategies and energy crisis resolutions, while González aims to shift towards social spending and rehabilitation efforts. Both advocate for expanded state power, suggesting that voters could face significant consequences under whichever leadership prevails. The election’s outcome will play a crucial role in shaping Ecuador’s future, especially in terms of public safety and economic stability.
Original Source: reason.com
