In Ecuador, the incumbent faces a leftist in the 2023 presidential election

In an unusually close race with the same two candidates as a 2023 snap election, incumbent Daniel Noboa and leftist Luisa Gonzalez will face off in Ecuador’s April presidential runoff.

The 37-year-old heir to a corporate wealth, Noboa, was expected by some surveys to win, even in the first round. However, he trailed Gonzalez by less than a point on Sunday, which may put the runners-up in third and fourth position kingmakers.

Noboa got a 44.5% share compared to Gonzalez’s 44% after more than 80% of the ballot boxes were tallied. On Sunday night, he did not address his fans.

During his 15 months in office, Noboa has pledged to continue using the military on the streets and in prisons to combat instability. He has also campaigned on a 15% drop in violent fatalities, a decrease in jail violence, and the apprehension of key gang leaders.

Gonzalez, a 47-year-old communist, and Noboa’s 14 other first-round opponents, however, demanded greater measures to combat the drug-related criminality that has shook Ecuador in recent years.

Gonzalez, a protégé of former President Rafael Correa, has stated that she will launch a social investment plan in the most dangerous neighborhoods, target corrupt judges and prosecutors, and combat crime with significant military and police operations.

Andrea Gonzalez, a former vice presidential candidate for a killed anti-corruption activist, received 2.7% of the vote, while indigenous leader Leonidas Iza, who spearheaded rallies that almost overthrew Noboa’s predecessor, was receiving 4.8%.

Iza is viewed as unlikely to support Noboa, whom he has accused of improvising his plans and of wishing to sell state assets, despite Luisa Gonzalez’s congratulations during remarks on Sunday night.

He has, however, also harshly attacked Correa.

Iza said on Sunday night that his movement will choose its candidates for the run-off as a group.

In 2023, Fernando Villavicencio was shot as he was exiting a campaign rally while campaigning alongside Andrea Gonzalez, who had no relation to her rival.

Villavicencio was adamantly against Correa, who has been found guilty of graft like many other prominent members of his ten-year government but has consistently denied any involvement.

This time, Gonzalez ran on behalf of former President Lucio Gutierrez’s campaign, which has stated that it will back Noboa in a rerun.

On Sunday night, Luisa Gonzalez appeared to be reaching out to possible supporters.

“We will continue to pursue unity,” Gonzalez continued. “We’re constantly trying to help Ecuadorian families improve. If we need to adjust our approach, we will.

Gonzalez and Correa have been denouncing what they described as election fraud schemes for days. Gonzalez specifically blamed the chairman of the national electoral council for allowing Noboa to flout campaign regulations.

Noboa and his vice president have a long-standing disagreement, most notably over Noboa’s eligibility for campaign leave.

Two decrees that Noboa used to obtain the leave were declared illegal by the constitutional court this week; this is expected to make it more difficult for him to appoint an acting vice president so that he may run for office.