Ecuador elects its youngest president in modern history
The political landscape in Ecuador has seen a major upheaval with the election of right-wing candidate Daniel Noboa as the country’s new president. At just 35 years old, he became the youngest president in Ecuador’s modern history, raising hopes of renewal for a country plagued by the violence of drug trafficking.
With 52.10% of the votes, Daniel Noboa won the second round of the presidential election, ahead of his left-wing competitor Luisa Gonzalez. His election also marks a defeat for Correismo, which had been the main political force in the country for around fifteen years.
Daniel Noboa, who grew up behind the scenes of his father’s electoral campaigns and made his fortune exporting bananas, embodies Ecuador’s political elite from the business world. Despite his “center left” label, he is considered a neo-liberal close to the right. Its 76-page program offers a comprehensive approach to facing the country’s economic and security challenges.
One of the priorities stated by the new president is to bring peace to a country ravaged by the violence of drug trafficking. He intends to focus on the militarization of ports and borders, as well as reinforced citizen vigilance to fight against criminal groups. At the same time, he also wants to tackle the root causes of low economic growth, in order to revitalize the country.
This election generated strong interest from voters, with a participation rate of 82.33%. Despite a few minor incidents, the vote took place peacefully, under the watchful eye of the Organization of American States.
The day after his election, Daniel Noboa wanted to thank God, his family and all those who supported his political project. He said he was ready to immediately begin working to rebuild the country and restore hope to the entire Ecuadorian population. It remains to be seen how he will deliver on his promises and lead a country seeking stability and prosperity.