Noboa Re-elected in Ecuador Amidst Recount Demands
Daniel Noboa, Ecuador's right-wing president, has secured re-election in a second-round runoff, according to the National Electoral Council's late Sunday announcement. Despite a significant margin of victory, his opponent has called for a recount, alleging electoral irregularities.
Noboa, who initially won in snap elections in 2023, now holds a full four-year term. His campaign focused on reviving Ecuador's struggling economy and continuing his aggressive crackdown on cartel violence.
"The Ecuadorians have spoken. We will start work tomorrow morning," Noboa told supporters in Olon, his hometown, dismissing his opponent's fraud claims.
The election results surprised many, especially after the close first-round vote in February, where Noboa won by a narrow 16,746-vote margin. His opponent had garnered significant support, including that of influential Indigenous leader Leonidas Iza.
The election was heavily influenced by widespread public concern over escalating drug-related violence. Ecuador, once a peaceful nation, has seen a dramatic surge in murders, with an average of one homicide per hour at the start of the year, as cartels battle for control of cocaine trafficking routes through the country's ports, originating in neighboring Colombia and Peru. Noboa's "mano dura" (tough hand) approach to combating this violence remains a central part of his mandate.
SOURCE: ALJAZEERA
Tags: Daniel Noboa Luisa Gonzalez
