Ecuadorian president claims reelection as results contested

More than 55% of voters on Sunday cast ballots in favor of Daniel Noboa, securing him a second term in office, according to the National Electoral Council of Ecuador. Noboa first took office in 2023 and represents the center-right National Democratic Action political alliance. With 90% of the ballots counted Sunday evening, National Electoral Council President Diana Atamaint said Noboa secured an irreversible lead to win the election.

However, Noboa’s challenger Luisa González rejected the results and demanded a recount. The lawyer, the candidate of the left-wing Citizen Revolution Movement, said her campaign did not recognize the results and claimed exit polls had shown her leading in the election.

Who is Noboa? First elected in 2023 at age 35, he became the youngest person to hold the presidency in Ecuador’s history. Noboa launched several businesses beginning at the age of 18 and has received degrees from New York University, Harvard Kennedy School, and George Washington University, according to his campaign website. He previously served as a legislator in the National Assembly and was president of the country’s Economic Development Commission. He has focused his presidential reelection campaign on his promise to crack down on crime in Ecuador, which was a top issue among voters. The country’s crime rate has surged in recent years, according to Human Rights Watch. Violence has increased as a result of fighting among gangs and frequent protests.

Dig deeper: Listen to Onize Oduah’s report on The World and Everything in It about Ecuador's election.