Ecuador's conservative incumbent and a leftist lawyer advance to presidential runoff

Ecuador will hold a presidential runoff election on April 13 between conservative incumbent Daniel Noboa and leftist lawyer Luisa González. Both candidates advanced from a field of 16 contenders, with Noboa receiving 44.43% of the votes and González earning 44.17%. The election follows a spike in violence and crime in the country, with voters seeking solutions to improve security and the economy. Noboa, a banana trade heir, and González, a protegée of a former president, emerged as front-runners in the race. Voting is mandatory in Ecuador, and turnout was high at over 83% of eligible voters. Noboa’s presidency saw a decrease in the homicide rate but a rise in other crimes like kidnapping and extortion, prompting concerns among voters.

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