By N. H. Gill
Oct. 15, 2023

Daniel Noboa, a 35-year-old businessman and son of Ecuador’s wealthiest family, was elected president after outgoing president Guillermo Lasso called for new elections and dissolved congress in May. Noboa, who campaigned on a platform to reduce crime and stabilize the economy, won about 52% of the vote to defeat his opponent, Luisa González, an ally of the South American nation’s former president Rafael Correa, according to the national electoral authority.

Lasso, a 67-year-old former banker who took office in May 2021, dissolved the National Assembly and called for new elections, citing “grave political crisis and internal commotion.” The move, known as “muerte cruzada,” came after congress authorized an impeachment inquiry into corruption and embezzlement allegations against him.

The campaign was also marred by violence, including the assassination of anti-corruption candidate Fernando Villavicencio ahead of first-round elections in August.

Cover photo: https://x.com/DanielNoboaOk