Ecuador’s Second Presidential Election of 2025: Contrasting Visions for the Future

Ecuador’s second presidential election of 2025 features incumbent President Daniel Noboa against challenger Luisa González. Both candidates support militaristic crime policies but differ in economic strategies, with Noboa focusing on tough crime measures and addressing an energy crisis, while González promotes a post-oil economy and expanded social spending. The outcome will critically shape Ecuador’s response to safety and economic issues.

In the upcoming Ecuadorian presidential election, voters will choose between the incumbent conservative President Daniel Noboa and progressive challenger Luisa González. Both candidates emphasize strong militaristic approaches to crime, though they differ significantly in their economic strategies. This election represents a second chance after neither candidate secured the required majority in February, where they both garnered around 44 percent of the votes.

Daniel Noboa, who took office in 2023, became Ecuador’s youngest president amidst a tumultuous political landscape. He replaced former President Guillermo Lasso, who disbanded the National Assembly to evade impeachment proceedings related to a corruption scandal. Noboa inherited a significant increase in crime rates, prompting him to declare an emergency state in several provinces soon after assuming office. This enabled military intervention in public safety.

Although some of Noboa’s policies initially reduced homicide rates by 17 percent, violence surged again in January 2025, marking one of the deadliest months in Ecuador’s history. Concurrently, Ecuador’s economy faced recession largely due to an energy crisis resulting from severe droughts affecting hydropower supply, leading to significant economic losses through extensive blackouts.

If re-elected, Noboa intends to reinforce his crime policies by constructing a maximum-security prison for notorious criminals and aims to tackle the pressing energy crisis with unspecified strategies. He also seeks to combat poverty through social programs, like the “Bono de Desarrollo Humano,” which provides aid to low-income families.

Luisa González, having contested against Noboa in 2023, is closely associated with former President Rafael Correa, despite claiming she would not interfere with his ongoing legal issues. She proposes to tackle crime in a fashion akin to Noboa, utilizing military and police forces effectively at the borders to address the drug trade.

González’s plan also involves reinstating the Ministry of Justice, Human Rights, and Worship to enhance prison rehabilitation and human rights, which had been disbanded in 2018. Economically, she plans a transition from an oil-dependent system, which currently supplies 82 percent of energy needs, to an alternative model emphasizing increased social expenditure and tax incentives aimed at women-owned businesses.

Despite their varied economic agendas, both candidates advocate for expanded state power to tackle crime. Voter choices in this election will be critical for addressing Ecuador’s dual challenges of safety and economic stability.

The upcoming presidential election in Ecuador highlights a stark contrast between President Daniel Noboa’s conservative militaristic policies and Luisa González’s progressive approach. Despite their differing economic visions, both candidates prioritize strong state interventions in crime control. As challenges in safety and economic stability loom, the decisions made by voters in this election will significantly impact the future governance and societal structure of Ecuador.

Original Source: reason.com