GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador — Luisa González, a lawyer with minimal political background, is making another bid for the presidency of Ecuador. Her campaign differs significantly from that of the 15 other candidates on the ballot, including current president Daniel Noboa, as it is heavily influenced by her political mentor, former president Rafael Correa. The familiarity of her name and face is prominently showcased on billboards, social media, and television campaigns, making her easily recognizable to voters. However, discussions about “Luisa” frequently bring up Correa, indicating his significant impact on her political identity.
“Correa’s staunch supporters remain devoted, while those opposed to him exhibit strong sentiments as well, and Noboa has adeptly navigated these divisions to gather support,” remarked Andrea Endara, who coordinates the political science program at Casa Grande University in Guayaquil.
Correa was part of a wave of leftist leadership across Latin America in the early 2000s, capitalizing on a commodities boom and financial assistance from China during his presidency from 2007 to 2017. His later years in office were marked by increasing authoritarianism, culminating in a prison sentence in absentia linked to corruption charges in 2020. The polarization he evokes among voters is likely to influence the outcome of the upcoming runoff election in October 2023, a rematch after González previously lost to Noboa in a snap election, which was convened by then-President Guillermo Lasso’s controversial decision to dissolve the National Assembly.
Having largely been unknown until her selection as the presidential candidate from Correa’s party, Citizen Revolution, for the 2023 snap elections, González had previously served in management roles within government agencies and held a brief position as a lawmaker. Last year, she ascended to the presidency of Citizen Revolution, but her current campaign continues to tread carefully on how to differentiate herself from Correa while leveraging his established political structure.
“Between the two major contenders, Luisa González stands out as the only candidate backed by a solid political organization,” stated Franklin Ramirez, a political science professor. He noted that Citizen Revolution has a rich history of governance compared to Noboa’s movement and has achieved various electoral successes since Correa’s exit from power. “There is ongoing organizational vitality beyond Correa that continues to nurture leadership, and Luisa is an integral part of that evolution,” added Ramirez.
In a final campaign rally, González passionately addressed thousands of enthusiastic supporters along a busy waterfront in Guayaquil, vowing to combat the violent crime that has plagued Ecuador for the last four years. The surge in violence is primarily attributed to cocaine trafficking from neighboring Colombia and Peru, with various international cartels establishing operations alongside local gangs.
During Noboa’s administration, there was a noted decrease in the homicide rate, dropping from 8,237, or 46.18 per 100,000 people, in 2023 to 6,964, or 38.76 per 100,000 in the following year. However, these figures remain alarmingly high compared to the 1,188 homicides, or 6.85 per 100,000 people, reported in 2019. Security forces surrounded González as she declared her intention to transform the nation’s dire circumstances, insisting that “no one should feel unsafe.”
“We are committed to replacing violence with peace,” she asserted, further criticizing Noboa for failing to uphold his campaign promises from 2023, including raising taxes, increasing gasoline prices, and mishandling an electricity crisis that resulted in extended power outages.
