Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa appears set to win Sunday's presidential election as voters rally behind his promises to fight crime, despite criticism from his opponents that he has not done enough.
Noboa, first elected in 2023 to complete his predecessor's term, has stated that his deployment of the army on the streets and inside prisons has, among other measures, reduced violent deaths by 15%, led to a drastic drop in prison violence and facilitated the capture of major gang leaders.
His 15 opponents have said more needs to be done to combat the drug-related crime that has rocked Ecuador in recent years, but some of their proposed solutions would require potentially complicated legislative approval or constitutional changes.
Other political ideas, such as increasing security at borders and ports, Noboa says he is already implementing.
"Today Ecuador has changed and wants to continue changing, it wants to consolidate its triumph. We are no longer a promise, we are a reality in this country, which has made a decision," he stressed at a closing rally of the campaign on Thursday in Quito.
Two major polls have shown that he could take more than 50% of the vote or win by at least 40%, ahead of his closest rival.
Other polls suggest he will not win outright on Sunday, but will triumph in the April runoff against leftist Luisa Gonzalez, whom he also faced in 2023.
Both candidates have urged their voters to watch the counting at polling stations in an effort to prevent any fraud.
Gonzalez said she would respond to crime with major military and police operations, pursue suspected corrupt judges and prosecutors, and implement a social spending plan in the most violent areas.
(BalkanWeb)
