Mon Feb 10 07:26:08 UTC 2025: ## Ecuador Headed for Presidential Runoff as Incumbent and Challenger Neck and Neck
**QUITO, Ecuador** – Ecuador will hold a second-round presidential runoff on April 13th after incumbent President Daniel Noboa and left-wing challenger Luisa Gonzalez emerged from Sunday’s first round virtually tied. Preliminary results from the National Electoral Council (CNE) with 80% of ballots counted show Noboa with 44.4% of the vote and Gonzalez with 44.1%.
Gonzalez’s strong showing, exceeding pre-election predictions, represents a surge in support for the Citizen Revolution Movement candidate and protégé of former President Rafael Correa. She declared the result a “statistical tie” and celebrated a “great victory” with supporters in Quito.
Noboa, the 37-year-old son of a billionaire, had hoped to secure the necessary 50% to avoid a runoff. While his supporters celebrated in the streets of Quito and Guayaquil, the close result leaves his path to re-election uncertain.
The election was widely seen as a referendum on Noboa’s “mano dura” (iron fist) approach to tackling Ecuador’s escalating crime crisis, fueled by drug cartels. His crackdown, involving states of emergency and military deployment, has drawn criticism from human rights groups citing alleged abuses, including the recent deaths of four boys near an army base. Noboa’s controversial deployment of heavily armed soldiers to polling stations and border closures on election day also raised concerns.
Further complicating Noboa’s campaign is a recent Constitutional Court ruling invalidating two decrees he used to take campaign leave. This could hinder his ability to appoint an interim vice president and effectively campaign ahead of the April runoff. The second round promises a close contest between two starkly different visions for Ecuador’s future.
First Piper 