Sun Apr 13 13:17:14 UTC 2025: ## Ecuador Holds Tight Presidential Runoff Election
**Quito, Ecuador** – Ecuadoreans went to the polls on Sunday, April 13, 2025, in a closely contested presidential runoff election between incumbent President Daniel Noboa and leftist lawyer Luisa González. This marks the second presidential runoff in less than two years for the South American nation, where voting is mandatory for most adults.
Over 13 million people were eligible to cast their ballots, with polling stations open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time. Initial results were expected within two hours of closing. The election is considered extremely tight, with analysts predicting a narrow margin of victory.
Both Noboa, a conservative young millionaire, and González have pledged to tackle the soaring crime rates – including extortion, killings, and kidnappings – that have plagued Ecuador since the pandemic. Their platforms both emphasize tough-on-crime policies, improved law enforcement resources, and international collaboration to combat drug cartels and local criminal organizations.
The candidates, largely unknown to the public before their first foray into politics in 2023, previously served as lawmakers before participating in a snap election triggered by the dissolution of the National Assembly. Noboa, 37, declared a state of “internal armed conflict” in 2024, deploying troops to combat gangs. While the homicide rate decreased under his tenure, it remains significantly higher than pre-2021 levels. His methods have faced criticism for potentially exceeding legal boundaries. González, 47, has a background in government service under former President Rafael Correa.
The election is widely seen as a referendum on the candidates’ approaches to combating the escalating violence linked to the drug trade from neighboring Colombia and Peru. The outcome is expected to significantly shape Ecuador’s future trajectory.
First Piper 