The real battle has shifted to social media, where accusations fly without restraint
The runoff between González and Noboa concludes Thursday, followed by electoral silence until Sunday's vote among 13+ million eligible Ecuadorian voters. González, backed by former president Correa, faces accusations of offshore accounts while Noboa emphasizes combating crime with a 'firm hand' amid unprecedented criminal violence.
- Presidential runoff between Luisa González and Álvaro Noboa scheduled for Sunday
- More than 13 million eligible Ecuadorian voters
- Campaign ends Thursday; electoral silence begins Friday through Sunday
- Winner completes only remainder of Lasso's 2021-2025 term after 'muerte cruzada' dissolution
Ecuador enters the final stretch of its extraordinary presidential election with a runoff between correísta Luisa González and businessman Álvaro Noboa scheduled for Sunday, amid accusations of dirty campaign tactics on social media.
Ecuador enters the final week of a presidential runoff that will determine who succeeds conservative president Guillermo Lasso. The two candidates—Luisa González, backed by former leftist president Rafael Correa, and Álvaro Noboa, heir to a banana empire—have until Sunday to convince more than 13 million eligible voters to choose them. The campaign officially ends Thursday, followed by three days of electoral silence before voting begins.
The intensity of street campaigning has quieted this week, partly because Ecuador is observing a three-day holiday marking the 203rd anniversary of Guayaquil's independence from colonial rule. Instead, the real battle has shifted to social media, where the two camps trade accusations of dirty tactics. González has called out conservative politician Fredy Bravo for claiming she holds accounts in offshore tax havens—a disqualifying offense under Ecuadorian law for presidential candidates. She has demanded he produce evidence or face legal consequences, framing his allegations as last-minute provocations designed to derail her campaign. Noboa, for his part, has used his social media platforms to denounce what he calls dirty campaigning, positioning himself as the cleaner alternative.
Both candidates are making their closing arguments around a central issue: crime. Ecuador has been gripped for more than two years by escalating criminal violence that has become the defining crisis of Lasso's presidency. Noboa has made combating this violence with a "firm hand" his signature promise, appealing to voters exhausted by the bloodshed and gang activity that has destabilized the country. González, as the correísta candidate, represents a return to the left and the Correa era, though she must navigate the complicated legacy of that period while addressing the security concerns that dominate voters' minds.
The voting process itself will unfold over several days. Prisoners with final sentences will cast ballots on Thursday. Friday is designated for homebound elderly voters and people with disabilities who registered in advance. The following Sunday, Ecuadorians living abroad will also vote—this time for legislative representatives in overseas jurisdictions. This overseas legislative election is a repeat; the original vote in August was annulled due to technical problems with the remote voting system used for expatriates.
This entire electoral process is extraordinary in origin. In May, Lasso invoked a constitutional mechanism called "muerte cruzada"—literally "mutual death"—which allowed him to dissolve the opposition-controlled National Assembly and simultaneously cut his own term in half. He took this dramatic step as the parliament prepared to vote on a censure motion against him in a corruption case. The consequence is that whoever wins the runoff will not serve a full presidential term but will instead complete only the remainder of Lasso's 2021-2025 period. The National Electoral Council has tentatively scheduled December 8 for the delivery of credentials to elected legislators and December 11 for the new president's inauguration, though these dates could shift depending on legal challenges filed during the vote count.
Notable Quotes
González demanded Fredy Bravo produce evidence of his claim that she holds offshore accounts or face legal consequences— Luisa González
Noboa emphasized his priority would be overcoming crime with a firm hand if elected president— Álvaro Noboa
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does this election feel so compressed, so urgent?
Because it's not a normal transition. Lasso essentially hit the eject button on his own presidency to escape a corruption case. The winner inherits a country in crisis—unprecedented gang violence, a fractured parliament—but only gets to lead for what's left of his term. There's no honeymoon period, no fresh mandate.
And the two candidates are fundamentally different?
Completely. González represents a return to the left, to Correa's era. Noboa is the establishment choice, a businessman whose family made its fortune in bananas. They're fighting over whether Ecuador needs a hard line on crime or a different political direction entirely.
The accusations of dirty campaigning—are those serious?
They matter because they reveal how fragile trust is. González is being accused of hiding money offshore, which would disqualify her. She's fighting back hard, threatening legal action. It's the kind of late-campaign mud that can shift votes if people believe it.
What about the voters who are actually deciding this?
They're exhausted. Crime has been the dominant issue for two years. Gangs control parts of the country. People want someone who can restore order, even if they disagree on everything else. That's Noboa's opening.
And after Sunday?
Three weeks of silence, then a new president takes office in December. But they'll inherit a parliament that's still fractured and a security crisis that won't wait for them to settle in.