Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa claimed electoral irregularities following a tight presidential election, resulting in a runoff against Luisa González. Observers from the EU and OAS found no evidence of fraud, while Noboa anticipated a larger victory. Crime remains a significant concern, influencing the candidates’ positions going into the April runoff election.
On Tuesday, Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa alleged irregularities in the recent presidential election, which resulted in a runoff between himself and Luisa González. With 98.48% of votes counted, Noboa claimed to have received 44.18% of the votes, while González secured 43.92%. Noboa anticipated a more decisive victory and cited discrepancies between the results and the Organization of American States (OAS) quick count but did not provide specific instances of the purported irregularities.
International observers from the European Union and the OAS reported no evidence of electoral fraud. The OAS stated that it had not found widespread irregularities that could affect the election outcome and called for any complaints to be reported to the appropriate authorities. Their quick count aligned with that of the National Electoral Council (CNE).
Gabriel Mato, the leader of the EU electoral observation mission, confirmed that there was no objective evidence of fraud, despite a narrative circulating around the election. He described the elections as “transparent, well organized and peaceful,” noting a bias in social media in favor of the incumbent administration.
In addition to discussing election irregularities, Noboa highlighted his government’s efforts to address Ecuador’s serious crime issues, including the recent capture of a high-profile gang member from the Los Lobos group. Insecurity is a pressing concern for voters, with a survey indicating that 25.2% of the population views it as the most significant issue facing the nation.
Noboa’s approach to crime has faced criticism for being overly aggressive, in contrast to González’s perspective, which favors peaceful solutions rather than a state of war. The runoff election between Noboa and González is scheduled for April 13, providing both candidates an opportunity to present their vision for Ecuador’s future.
In summary, President Daniel Noboa has raised concerns about irregularities in the recent elections, which have been met with dismissal by international observers who found no evidence of fraud. The tight race has led to a runoff scheduled for April. As safety remains a focal point for voters, the candidates offer contrasting approaches to addressing crime in Ecuador.
Original Source: latinamericareports.com
