Ecuador Voices in the presidential elections led by Daniel Nuboa and Luisza Gonzales Election news

The job operator Daniel Nuboa is seeking to re -election, as Luisza Gonzalez is seen as his main rival.

Ecuador voters in Ecuador are scheduled to choose their next president in a race dominated by the country’s security crisis and the struggling economy.

Opinion polls were opened at 7 am local time (12:00 GMT) on Sunday and will close after 10 hours (22:00 GMT).

Fifteen candidates for the current president on the right -wing Daniel Nuboa, the 37 -year -old billionaire son of Banana. Go up to power Just 14 months ago. His highest rival is the left -wing Luisa Gonzalez, 47 -year -old for former President Rafael Korea.

Gonzales will have to greatly outperform the pre-election polls to overcome Frontrunner Nooboa, who is close to the “MANO DURA” iron list-in the crime Experts consider it A major factor in its expected progress.

If no candidate gets 50 percent of the votes, or 40 percent with 10 points in the closest competitor, then there will be a round in the second round on April 13.

Ecuador wants to continue to change. “

the Campaign focused largely Regarding concerns about the declining economy and the Cartlal grass that turned Ecuador from one of the most secure countries in the world to One of the most dangerous.

Nubua, who was first elected in 2023 to end the term of his predecessor, says that its deployment of the army in the streets and inside the prisons helped reduce violent deaths by 15 percent, led to a radical fall in prison violence, and the main arrest of the main gang.

“Today, Ecuador has changed and wants to continue to change, as she wants to unify her victory,” Nuboa said in a closing campaign on Thursday in the capital, Kito. “This Sunday, prepare your ability to dream.”

But the president’s competitor said that more is a need to fight Crime related to drug trafficking Ecuador has been shook in recent years.

Gonzalez says she will respond to crime with military operations and police, and is following up corrupt judges and prosecutors and implementing the social spending plan in the most violent areas.

“We cannot talk about controlling violence without thinking about social justice, building Ecuador with peace, not war,” said Gonzalez. “We move towards this shift with each of you … We will save ourselves together.”

“The worst crisis in half a century”

One of the smallest world leaders, Nubua, his political future is betting on a strict approach to the crime, which has grown syndrome while fighting gangs on lands to smuggle cocaine.

During his first term, he declared a state of emergency, and the army was deployed throughout the country Unusual executive forces gathered To reduce violence.

Human rights groups believe that the strong use of the armed forces has led to violations, including the killing of four children whose charred bodies were found near an army base.

But analysts say Noboa may have an edge, as the high rates of murder in the cartel and the standard standing in support of the leadership of the strong man.

“Our research shows that the majority of voters want a kind of dictatorship. They want that iron fist, whatever the ideology behind it,” said analyst Omar Maluk on the island.

“They still want a strong man who does not show any weakness or sensitivities, even if these measures have often failed until now, because January, Ecuador has reached a global record of 700 killings in one month.”

The security crisis struck the economy, which is likely to enter the recession last year.

Noboa has been forced to resort to the International Monetary Fund to build a $ 4 billion in War War Fund.

Gonzalez, who reduces fears of the abolition of the International Monetary Fund’s deal if elected, said on Saturday that the United Nations “welcome” to help, as long as it does not insist on the policies that harm the working families.