Political Newcomer Daniel Noboa Secures Ecuadorian Presidency Amid Surge in Violence

Daniel Noboa, a political novice and the son of a wealthy businessman, has succeeded where his father failed on multiple occasions—securing the presidency of Ecuador.

Securing his win on the first try, Noboa triumphed over a leftist legal advocate in a runoff election. His victory is particularly remarkable given his relatively young age of 35 and his belonging to Ecuador’s upper class, which typically entails education abroad, some involvement in entrepreneurship, and a limited political background.

Confronting him now is the pressing issue of public safety, a demand reiterated by the electorate throughout the campaign in the wake of a marked increase in violence related to drug trafficking.

Throughout his campaign, Noboa’s solutions to this urgent problem have varied widely. At one stage, he suggested transforming ships into offshore detention facilities for the most dangerous criminals; at another, he merely pledged to better equip law enforcement agencies.

Ecuadorians have grown increasingly alarmed by the rise in drug-related violence over the past three years, with homicides, kidnappings, and other crimes becoming alarmingly frequent occurrences, causing many to contemplate not whether, but when they will be affected.

Moreover, Noboa will serve a shorter term, intensifying the challenges ahead.

Experts like Will Freeman, a Latin American studies fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, question Noboa’s ability to ameliorate Ecuador’s deteriorating security landscape within the span of his 18-month term, citing his erratic policy proposals as evidence of improvisation.

Noboa’s limited term runs until May 2025, picking up the remnants of Guillermo Lasso’s presidency, which ended prematurely when he disbanded the National Assembly amid impeachment investigations concerning government contract improprieties.

Final electoral results indicate Noboa won 52% of the votes, compared to nearly 48% for Luisa González, an associate of the exiled former President Rafael Correa. González graciously accepted defeat while also urging Noboa to deliver on his electoral commitments.

Acknowledging his victory, Noboa expressed gratitude towards Ecuadorians for their faith in “a nascent, unlikely political initiative.” His proclaimed objective is to restore peace, education, and employment in a nation marred by widespread violence, corruption, and animosity.

Past governance has shown a lack of capability in addressing Ecuador’s security issues, as evidenced by the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in August. Subsequent events, including additional killings of political figures and acts of terrorism, have highlighted this failure.

Daniel Noboa began his professional journey with an event management company at 18, later transitioning into various roles within his father Álvaro Noboa’s business conglomerate, Noboa Corp. He entered politics in 2021, securing a seat in the National Assembly and leading its Economic Development Commission.

Álvaro Noboa, Daniel’s father, is Ecuador’s wealthiest individual, amassing his fortune primarily through banana exports. He unsuccessfully campaigned for the presidency five times.

Daniel Noboa’s political party lacks a majority in the National Assembly, meaning he will need to build coalitions with opposition lawmakers to avoid the legislative struggles that plagued his predecessor, Guillermo Lasso.

Lasso, a conservative and former banker, experienced significant conflict with the National Assembly after his 2021 election and chose not to participate in the special election. Under his governance, violent deaths in Ecuador peaked at an all-time high of 4,600 in 2022, doubling the previous year’s count. The first half of 2023 saw 3,568 violent deaths.

The escalation in violence is intricately linked to cocaine trafficking from neighboring Colombia and Peru, with criminal organizations from Mexico, Colombia, and the Balkans establishing operations in Ecuador.

Julio Ricaurte, a 59-year-old engineer, expressed skepticism about the potential for change, citing both the limited timeframe of Noboa’s term and the obstructionist tendencies of the National Assembly.

Noboa and González emerged as the finalists from a pool of eight candidates in the first electoral round held on August 22. González, largely unknown prior to her candidacy, held various governmental roles during Correa’s presidency and served as a legislator from 2021 until May. She initially claimed Correa would serve as her advisor but later distanced herself to appeal to Correa’s critics.

Rosa Amaguaña, a 62-year-old vendor, highlighted public safety as the foremost issue for the next administration, expressing cautious optimism for even minimal improvements under the new leadership.

The report is by Garcia Cano, based in Caracas, Venezuela.

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More about Daniel Noboa Ecuadorian Presidency

• Daniel Noboa’s Campaign Promises
• Guillermo Lasso’s Tenure and Resignation
• Crime Statistics in Ecuador 2022-2023
• Profile of Luisa González
• Ecuador’s National Assembly and its Role
• Drug Trafficking and Violence in Ecuador
• Council on Foreign Relations Commentary on Ecuador
• Overview of Álvaro Noboa’s Business Empire and Political Attempts