Ecuador - August 2023

Following a first-round election held in a climate of political violence, Ecuador is set for a presidential run-off

Luisa Gonzalez, leftist candidate, and Daniel Noboa, considered a pro-business candidate, will face each other in a run-off election on 15 October after leading in the first round that took place in August. Gonzalez, who is considered close to former President Rafael Correa, is currently leading over Noboa with around 33 per cent of support, while the latter attained around 24 per cent of votes.

The election took place amid a climate of political violence, including the killing of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, just days before the election, as well as the killing of the leader of the party Revolucion Ciudadana, an assassination attempt against a mayor, and the killing of another mayor in July. Despite this climate of violence, voter turnout was around 82 per cent (voting is mandatory for most Ecuadorians).

As the presidential election was triggered after incumbent Guillermo Lasso invoked a constitutional provision that resulted in a call for elections, whoever wins in the run-off will govern for the remainder of Lasso’s original term. Christian Zurita, who replaced Fernando Villavicencio after he was killed at the end of a political rally, came in third.

Sources: El Universo, El Pais (1), Bloomberg, El Pais (2), The Guardian